Two persons have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in the Iju Ishaga area of the state for the kidnap and death of Prof. Paul Erie, a professor of Agricultural Economics and Extension at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects ─ Lucky Odion and Lucky Anieiyi ─ were arrested from their hideouts in the Iju area by policemen after a tip-off.
It was learnt that the two were thereafter transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, where they were also being detained.
Erie had been kidnapped by the gunmen on Tuesday, June 16, on the Agbor-Uromi Road in Edo State, while he was on his way to his residence in Igbanke town in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that after Erie’s family paid a ransom demanded by the kidnappers, the gang reportedly refused to let go of the professor.
According to the police in Edo State, the remains of the professor were, however, exhumed from a forest in Igbanke on Thursday, October 1, where the gang had allegedly kept the professor before killing him.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwochei, had said the police arrested five suspects in connection with the incident. The suspects led the police to the spot where the professor was buried.
But our correspondent gathered on Sunday that Odion and Anieiyi, said to be alleged masterminds of the kidnap and murder of Erie, were arrested in the Iju area.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that Odion was arrested on Oluwatosin Street, Abule Egba, while Odion led operatives to Mustapha Street, Iju, where Anieiyi was arrested.
He added that Anieiyi allegedly offered the policemen N1.5m bribe to evade arrest.
He said, “Lucky Anieiyi and his cohorts are the kidnappers who abducted Erie in his car some months ago and killed him after collecting an undisclosed amount of money as ransom from his family.
“They had been on the run. It was an informant who led a team of detectives to the house where Anieiyi was arrested. He then offered the police the sum of N1.5m as bribe.
“The offer was turned down and we arrested him and took him to the station for interrogation.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, confirmed the arrest, adding that the police were liaising with the Force headquarters and the Edo State Police Command on the suspects.
He said, “Our informant told us that the suspects were part of the kidnap gang. They have been arrested and are making useful statements to the police.
“There was an attempt to compromise the Divisional Police Officer. We are also liaising with the Force headquarters and the Edo State Police Command on the suspects. Investigations are ongoing on the matter.”
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