By Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—The kingpin of the gang, which recently kidnapped Mrs Cynthia Diden, wife of member representing Warri North constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Michael Diden, has been arrested. The suspect, simply identified as Sinfianu, who hails from Adamawa State, was reportedly arrested by the anti-kidnap police squad at a hideout in Hausa Quarters, Warri, Delta State on Monday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu,  said “Is not true,” when contacted for official confirmation but reliable sources within the state police command  confirmed the arrest. Mrs Diden, it will be recalled, was kidnapped along with her sister-in-law by four armed men on June 25, 2016, around Effunrun Roundabout in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

The victims spent six days in the den of the kidnappers, who demanded N200 million ransom for their release. They regained freedom days later with no confirmation as to whether the ransom was paid before their release. Sinfianu’s arrest preceded that of Newton Darlington, another member of the gang, who was picked up on tip-off through one of the mobile phones the suspects had collected from their victims during the abduction saga. Security sources said those so far arrested have made confessional statements in custody,  owning up to several kidnap incidents in Delta State.