Two suspects, Pedro Festus and Omorodion Felix, have been taken into custody by Edo State Police Command operations for the kidnapping and subsequent death of a 22-year-old man.
The suspects are part of a well-known kidnapping gang that specializes in kidnapping and car snatching in Delta and Edo states.
It was reported that the victim, identified as Joseph, was driving into his compound when the suspects blocked his vehicle at gunpoint and took him away in his car.
The suspects demanded a ransom of N10 million, but the family was only able to raise N250,000, which they sent to them while negotiations went on.
After obtaining N250,000, the suspects allegedly sold the victim’s car to an unidentified bidder and killed him while the ransom negotiations were still going on.
Following their arrest, the suspects admitted to the crime and murder of the victim, who recognized them as neighbors in the same neighborhood.
According to information obtained, Pedro, one of the suspects, was charged with armed robbery and appeared in court as Ikoowonsa Owege, nevertheless, he managed to elude capture during the 2020 #EndSars demonstration.
Owege changed his name to Pedro Festus after breaking out of jail, and he used the new persona to carry out a string of kidnappings and killings around the state.