By Austin Ogwuda

Asaba – IMMEDIATE past Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Raymond Yavbieri, paid N7 million to kidnappers in Asaba to secure the freedom of his wife and four children who were abducted on their way to the church. Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of State  Ministry of Economic Planning, Mr. Gift Nikoro has been abducted.

State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Tsafe, at a briefing in Asaba, yesterday however stated that his men successfully arrested the six-member gang following information that one of the suspects bought a land with his share of the ransom.

Tsafe said: “on  November 20, 2011, one Mrs. Igho Yavbieri and her four kids were kidnapped on their way to the church by men armed with sophisticated weapons on Jesus Saves Road, Asaba in her Toyota Camry car.

“The gang later collected the sum of N7 million. However on  December 5, anti-kidnapping squad got information that one of the suspects bought a  land in Okpanam with his share of the ransom. The team swung into action and arrested the first suspect who  confessed to the kidnap and led the team to arrest five other members of the gang (names withheld) as accomplices.”

The CP also told newsmen that his men arrested a gang of four kidnappers for abducting the managing director of Bay View Hotel, Asaba.

“He was kept in captivity for three days during which they demanded and collected ransom of N3.2 million before releasing the victim”.

The Permanent Secretary  was kidnapped at his residence in Asaba on Monday afternoon while returning from work.