We Got Victims On Dating Sites— Suspected Kidnappers
We got victims on dating sites, dispossess them of money, belongings — Suspected kidnappers Three members of a kidnap gang that picked on their targets through dating sites have been arrested by men of the Inspector -General of Police Intelligence Response Team in Rivers State . The suspects – Michael Eneji aka General, 30 ; Nwachukwu Emeka , 22 ; and Success Okeke , 27 – were rounded up following the killing of one of their victims , Michael Victor , who reportedly went missing on January 6 . City Round learnt that the IRT operatives led by DCP Abba Kyari began to track the gang after Victor ’s family lodged a complaint at the police unit on January 12 , leading to the arrest of the suspects . The gang ’s modus operandi was to parade themselves as ladies in search of lovers on the dating site and lure their victims to a lonely spot where they would rob them of their valuables . One AK- 47 rifle and three magazines loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition were said to have been recovered from them . They also reportedly owned up to killing Victor on the day he was kidnapped and led the operatives to Old Onne Road , Rivers State , where they usually carried out their kidnapping and robbery operations . The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area , SP Chukwuma Emeka , reportedly recovered Victor ’s corpse and deposited it at Okrika General Hospital Mortuary on January 7 , after a case of an abandoned corpse was reported at the station . In his confession , the ringleader , Eneji, a native of Gakem community in the Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State , said he had been into kidnapping and armed robbery since 2011 when he completed his first degree in Business Administration . He stated that he identified himself as a naval officer to people to cover his tracks, adding that he had earlier been arrested on two occasions for stealing, kidnapping and murder . He said , “In 2014 , I was arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder of a victim who was a staff member of an oil company. I was sent to prison but my lawyer got me released in 2015 after eight months in prison . He told me that the judge struck out the case . “We normally pose as women on dating sites . As soon as we lure our victim , we would arrange a meeting . If the target was stubborn , we would ask the only lady among us to speak with the target . If the man insists on seeing the face of the lady , we go on video chats. We also use a small phone that enables us to change our voice from a man ’s voice to a woman ’s voice. “Once I have been able to establish a contact , I would convince them that I would satisfy their sexual urge . Pretending to be a lady , I would tell them to meet me somewhere around Eleme Road . One of my boys , Success , would go there and meet them as my domestic servant and direct them to my house . I would claim that I live in a mansion where I don’ t like disturbance to convince them to come .” He said as the victims approached the phantom mansion , Okeke would lead them to a deserted place where they would lay in ambush dressed in army uniform. He added , “ We will tie their hands and legs . We collect their valuables , including ATM cards . Emeka would hold the AK -47 in case of any attack while I go to the bank to withdraw whatever the victims have in the bank accounts. “Our last victim that put us in trouble was picked by my friend , Success ( Okeke ) . I had left our camp with his ATM card when security men on patrol passed by. I was waiting for the password when Abubakar ( still at large) called and told me that the man is dead . We all went home and two days later police arrested me .” Okeke , who hails from Anambra State , a graduate of Microbiology , said joblessness and hardship forced him to join the gang . He said as the first son , he wanted to make money and impress his family, admitting that his role in the gang was to pick the victims to an agreed spot. He stated , “They did not tell me that the victim ( Victor ) died until police arrested me. Michael ( Eneji) had given me his number and asked me to pick him . I called and told him that my madam who works in an oil company requested that I should bring him to the house . I picked him at a bus stop near a filling station . “On our way , our gang members dressed in military uniform stopped us . It was around 8 pm and they asked us why we were passing through the spot. They overpowered the man and dragged him into the bush . I was waiting when I saw a flashlight from security men on patrol . I ran away and later called Michael who told me to wait for him somewhere . I was waiting when policemen arrested me . Nwachukwu , who owned the AK- 47 , said he got it from an ex- militant, adding that he knew Michael as a naval officer and gave him the gun to protect him ( Nwachukwu ) during his grandfather ’ s burial. Copyright PUNCH.
