By Abasi Ita
Four persons have been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command in connection with an alleged conspiracy and attempted kidnapping in Yahe community, Yala Local Government Area of the state.
Those arrested are Adedeji Goodluck aged 21, Sylvester Akpa 20, Chinonso Nwibo Emmanuel 25 and Richard Innocent 22. Police said the suspects are of no fixed address.
The arrest followed credible information from a good Samaritan, which prompted a joint rescue operation by local vigilante members and security operatives.
A security source disclosed that Chinonso Emmanuel allegedly enticed Adedeji Goodluck to travel from Abuja to Yahe, where he was reportedly held against his will. The suspects were said to have demanded a ransom of seven million naira from the victim’s parents in Abuja.
It was further alleged that the suspects threatened to kill the victim for ritual purposes if the ransom was not paid.
Police sources said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects conspired and carried out the act, keeping the victim in captivity while making several phone calls to his parents to demand payment.
The victim was rescued without injuries and has been placed under protective custody, while the suspects remain in police detention.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Command, ASP Sunday Etiokpah said investigations were ongoing and assured that the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of the probe.
He added that the success recorded was due to the swift collaboration between the local vigilante group and the police, stressing that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property across the state.