By Daniel Edu
Franca Okuzor, a self-proclaimed Pastor, has been arrested alongside six other suspects in Delta State in connection with an alleged kidnapping incident. The arrest was confirmed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the statement, a case of kidnapping was reported at the Obiaruku Police station on July 19, 2023, by a distressed caller. The complaint described how three masked men armed with guns accosted them at the entrance of their house in Obinoba, Nkwani LGA, and kidnapped the mother.
In response to the report, the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, assigned the DPO Obiaruku Police station to collaborate with the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad (SAKCCS) to launch a manhunt for the kidnappers and rescue the victim.
The kidnappers released the victim on July 26, 2023, after collecting a ransom of N2 million and other jewelry worth about N3.5 million. The police then embarked on an intelligence-led investigation, leading to the arrest of Kabi Kester, aged 43, who confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang.
Kester’s confession led to the arrest of two other suspects, Henry Owojero, 42, and Franca Okuzor, who claimed to be a pastor and is the wife of the gang’s leader, Celestine Nova (at large). The victim was held captive for six days in Nova’s house.
The suspects admitted their involvement and named four other members of the gang: Celestine Nova, Uche (surname unknown), Chinedu Etudo, and Nweke (surname unknown). A manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the remaining gang members.
In another incident, police operatives on patrol along Benin/Asaba Expressway at Issele-uku intercepted a commercial Sienna vehicle and found 250 rounds of live cartridges concealed in a bag. The owner of the bag, Omoruyi Osemudiamen, aged 46, was arrested.
Additionally, James Moro, aged 23, was arrested in Asaba, and a locally fabricated pump-action gun was recovered from him. Investigations into these incidents are still ongoing.