Varsity student arrested over abduction of clerics

Astudent of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was yesterday paraded by the Edo State police command for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of two reverend fathers in the state.

The student, Jerry Manya, 24, was paraded alongside 37 other suspected criminals arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the state.

Parading the suspects, the state police commissioner, Babatunde Johnson Kokumo, said the command will not relent in the fight against crime in the state.

He said Manya, a level 200 student, was arrested at Urumehen, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, for alleged involvement in the kidnap of two reverend fathers, namely, Joseph Ediae and Victor Adigboluja.

However, in an interview with journalists, Manya denied involvement in the kidnapping of the clergymen. He said he came from Zaria to Urumehen to work as a hired labourer to enable him raise money for his education.

“I was on my way to buy Exol 5, a hard substance which enhances my physical performance while working in the farm when I was picked up by police operatives who accused me of involvement in the kidnap. I didn’t kidnap anybody,” he said.

Also paraded were Shehu Ibrahim, 20 and Juli Buba, 20, who were arrested for alleged involvement in the kidnap of a former chairman of the NBA, Auchi branch, Barrister Anthony Atemagbo and one Dr. Edeawe Osahogie.

Other paraded suspected kidnapers were Isah Umoru and Usman Shaibu, said to be members of a kidnap gang that abducted three persons along Igarra-Aiyetoro road, in AkokoEdo Local Government Area of the state.

Kokumo said four other members of the gang have been arrested and N300,000 recovered from them.