By Ado Oyeyemi
The Delta State Police Command has arrested a commercial motorcycle rider for allegedly abducting a three-year-old girl entrusted to his care and collecting a ₦500,000 ransom from her family before releasing the child.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a video shared on Thursday, explaining that the suspect had been hired to transport the child between her home and school for a monthly fee of ₦10,000.
According to Edafe, the rider carried out the assignment for about three weeks before allegedly executing the kidnapping plan.
He said that instead of taking the child to school on the day of the incident, the suspect diverted her to another location and began contacting the family through a different telephone line, demanding a ransom of ₦2 million.
Edafe explained that the suspect deliberately switched off his personal phone to avoid raising suspicion and conceal his involvement in the abduction.
Despite threats that the child would be killed if the police were informed, the family reported the incident to security operatives.
The kidnappers later reduced their demand, and the family eventually paid ₦500,000 before the child was released unharmed.
The police spokesperson said detectives immediately launched an intelligence-driven investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of part of the ransom money.
The suspect, identified as Kelvin Ogaga, reportedly confessed during interrogation, admitting that he participated in the crime after being persuaded by a friend identified simply as Omo.
Ogaga told investigators that financial hardship pushed him into the kidnapping plot.
He also alleged that his girlfriend was aware of the plan and played a role in its execution.
Edafe said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects connected to the crime.
He urged parents and guardians to thoroughly screen individuals entrusted with the care and transportation of their children, stressing the need for caution when engaging caregivers and service providers.
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“The good part is that the child is safe, the suspect has been arrested and part of the ransom money has been recovered,” the police spokesman said.
