The Department of State Services , DSS, has arrested 28 suspected kidnappers during its nationwide operations within six days.
The service in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its spokesman, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, said that in line with its statutory mandate, the DSS initiated series of special tactical operations in states prone to the nefarious activities of criminal gangs.
The suspects according to the service were apprehended across various states in the South-South, South-West and the North-West regions.
The service stated further that the operations succeeded in the capture of the masterminds and other facilitators of kidnapping syndicates amongst whom is one Victor Afikparobo who was picked up on July 20, 2015, at Owheologbo, Isoko North LGA of Delta State.
The DSS said the suspect is a key member of the “Federa” gang, a kidnap syndicate which perpetrated series of kidnap incidents within the Ikorodu/Otta axis of Lagos State, adding that the arrest had given further leads on the gang leader of the Federa kidnap syndicate.
According to Opuiyo, “On July, 24, the DSS also apprehended Joseph Ojobor (a.k.a Chairman), the leader of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate at Uduere, village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State. The DSS said he had also been linked to some incidents of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
“ Also, on the same July, 24 about 0500 hours, the team arrested another member of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate, one Timothy Japheth in his house at Onokpasa Avenue in Okhan village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State.
“Earlier, on July 19, another member of the notorious gang, one Howell Anufa was apprehended by the Service. The suspect was instrumental to the kidnap of the Regent of Akungba in Ondo State.
“Anufa also participated in the spate of kidnap incidents, carried out by the gang in Lagos and Ogun States respectively, before he relocated to Warri, Delta State, where he was eventually arrested.”
The service also said it arrested one member of the Ekiti kidnap syndicate, Ayodeji Oluwafemi and Rachael Oladapo, a female, who was used by the gang as a reconnaissance spy and informant.
“In a follow-up tactical raid in Ekiti State, five other members of the notorious Ekiti kidnap gang were intercepted by operatives of the DSS and they are are Felix Omaiwa, Bose Ajayi, Tope Gabriel, Olayemi Ogunmola and Damilola Obamoyegun,” the DSS said,adding that operations to apprehend fleeing members of some of the identified kidnap gangs are ongoing.
