Police have arrested Delta okada rider Kelvin Ogaga for allegedly kidnapping a three-year-old girl who had been entrusted to his care for daily transportation to and from school in Delta State.
Delta okada rider Kelvin Ogaga reportedly worked for the child’s parents for about three weeks after they hired him to transport their daughter for a monthly fee of ₦10,000. However, investigators alleged that he abducted the toddler instead of taking her to school.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the incident in a video shared on Thursday. He said the suspect switched off his personal phone to avoid being traced.
Afterwards, the suspect contacted the family with another phone number and demanded a ₦2 million ransom. He later reduced the ransom demand to ₦500,000.
Although the suspect warned the family not to inform the police, the child’s relatives reported the incident. Consequently, detectives launched an intelligence-led investigation while the family paid the reduced ransom. The suspect later released the child unharmed.
Meanwhile, investigators tracked down and arrested the Delta okada rider. Officers also recovered part of the ransom money during the operation.
During questioning, the Delta okada rider allegedly confessed to the crime. He claimed that a friend identified as “Omo” persuaded him to commit the offence because of financial hardship. He also alleged that his girlfriend knew about the kidnapping plan.
Furthermore, SP Bright Edafe said efforts to arrest other suspects connected to the crime were ongoing. He advised parents and guardians to thoroughly verify the backgrounds of anyone entrusted with the care or transportation of their children.
According to daily post,The Delta State Police Command said the Delta okada rider case highlights its commitment to tackling kidnapping across the state. Officers recovered part of the ransom money and continue to search for other suspects linked to the crime.
The command also reaffirmed its commitment to bringing everyone involved to justice.
