Kidnappers capture Delta ex-lawmaker, demand N200m as ransom

A six man armed kidnappers have Thursday night abducted a former lawmaker, Emeka Ukpe, along Kwale-Ughelli Road. Reports said that the kidnappers ambushed the ex-lawmaker between Kwale and Ozoro as  he had tried to avoid a pot hole along the road with his SUV with registration number AA 126 XX.

They were said to have taken him away in his own vehicle to an unknown destination after they allegedly shot into the air sporadically to scare any suspicion.

Sources said Ukpe was also a local government chairman and a lawmaker who represented Ndokwa West Constituency at Delta State House of Assembly.

But a family member who is also a member of the state executive council who did not want his name in the print, said the former lawmaker was deceived by his friends to attend Ukwata Festival held in Abbi and on the strength of that, he  proceeded with  his vehicle through Kwale road when the unexpected happened.

It was gathered that several attempts had allegedly been made on the life of the ex-lawmaker in the past by suspected assassins especially kidnappers.

In a swift reaction, the Police Image Maker in the state, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka confirmed that the ex-lawmaker was taken away by the kidnappers to an unknown destination, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue him unhurt.
Meanwhile,a family member who did not want his name in the print, said the kidnappers have established contact with them, demanding  N200 million ransom.

In another development, the Police in Owa-Oyibu Police Division, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, have arrested a serving councilor at the local government council, and three others, (names withheld) for alleged assignation attempt on one Chukwuji Emegha at his residence.

It was gathered that the suspects had allegedly collected N800, 000 from one Happy and Gbenga (surnames withheld) to terminate the life of Emegha around September 2016 before the bubble burst.

Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Zanna Ibrahim confirmed that the suspects allegedly contracted Emegha’s elder brother, one Richard to do the job; an allegation, the said Richard denied, adding that all allegations against him were “cooked up”.

The police boss said that the victim, a popular business man in Boji Boji Owa, was said to have survived several gun shots  on him by the suspected assailants and the act was reported to the police in Owa Oyibo Police Division before it was transferred to the police headquarters.

He said that the suspects were arrested on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State and during confession, told the story of an attempt they made on the life of Chukwuji Emegha for which reason he abandoned his base in Agbor to an unknown destination.

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