Rita Odafe
Edo Police Capture Kidnappers Linked to Murder of Young Man
The Edo State Police have apprehended two individuals, Pedro Festus and Omorodion Felix, for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a 22-year-old named Joseph after a ransom demand.
These individuals are reportedly part of a well-known group engaged in kidnappings and vehicle theft across Delta and Edo states.
Reports indicate that the duo attacked Joseph outside his home in the Uwore community, forcibly taking him into a nearby forest along the Benin-Akure Road.
At the time of the incident, Joseph was entering his property when the suspects ambushed his car at gunpoint, seizing him and driving off in his vehicle.
While they requested a ransom of N10 million, Joseph’s family managed to gather only N250,000, which they provided as negotiations progressed.
However, after receiving the N250,000, the kidnappers tragically killed Joseph, despite the ongoing discussions, and proceeded to sell his car to an unidentified buyer.
Following their arrest, the suspects confessed to their involvement and murder, with the victim identifying them as his neighbors.
It was revealed that Pedro Festus, one of the suspects, had previously been charged with armed robbery under the name Ikoowonsa Owege. He escaped custody during the #EndSars protests in 2020 and later adopted the alias Pedro Festus to carry out further crimes in the region.
