Teenager Kidnapped in Ibadan, Rescued in Calabar

The suspects

• Policeman kills colleague to help suspected cult members
• Suspected marijuana vendors nabbed in Lagos

A Teenager kidnapped in Ibadan, Oyo State, has been rescued in Calabar, Cross River State

Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, made this known yesterday in Calabar while briefing journalists on the activities of the police command in the past one month.

Ozi-Obeh said the 16-year-old kidnap victim was abducted in Ibadan on November 7 and brought to Calabar the following day. He said the minor, a student of St. Barnabas Academy at Daramola Street in Ibadan, was abducted on his way to school.

The police boss explained that the command had got across to the Ibadan Police Command with a view to safely hand over the boy to them so that he can be re-united with his family.

Also, he said one of its personnel, Kingsley Iyeke, killed another policeman, Edet Archibong, during a gun duel between the police and suspected cultists in Calabar. The commissioner said that after the incident, the police swung into action by tracing the cultists to their hideout where some of them were arrested.

He explained that during interrogation, one of the suspected cultists mentioned Mr. Iyeke, a police corporal, as their member “and that he was the one that shot the police inspector during the clash. It would be recalled that we lost one of our inspectors last month during an exchange of fire with some cultists here in Calabar.

“During our trial, we found out that truly he was their member. We have dismissed him and he will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Iyeke, 35, from Rivers, was attached to the Marine Police base in Calabar. Responding to questions from journalists, Iyeke denied being a member of any cult group, saying that he was only being set up by the suspected cultists.

In another development, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected notorious hawkers of marijuana popularly called ‘Indian hemp’.

The plain-clothed undercover policemen attached to Ikeja Division, who disguised as customers, arrested the suspects at Ipodo area of Ikeja.

Following intelligence received by the Ikeja Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Olasoji, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) that the Ikeja area has become a hub for cartels, who deal in illicit drugs, the policemen swooped on the hoodlums, arresting three suspects in the area.

One of the suspects, John Albert told The Guardian that he ventured into the business to raise money for hospital bill. “I don’t hawk Igbo always. I just started the business because I needed to raise money for my operation. We know what we are doing is illegal, that is why we run whenever we hear the sound of a siren.

“In this business, policemen are our enemies. I used to repair big generating sets and it is a job that requires too much strength. I was no longer coping, so I decided to venture into sales of Indian hemp. My friends told me that the business is lucrative.

“I make N6,500 profit after selling a full tray. I use to smoke it before but I stopped recently because I know it is bad for me,” he said.