₦airaland Forum

Teenage killers
◗ End of road for young kidnappers on rampage in Benin

When 46-year-old Okunbor Oghogho found himself surrounded by five teenagers on the night of November 21, 2019, the worst he could think of was that he was about to be robbed of his valuables. On that score, he was correct, as they soon took his Samsung phone and the N5, 000 cash on him. However, he didn’t know how wrong he was. By the time the night was over, the teenage gang had committed worse crime. They had kidnapped him, used his UBA ATM card to withdraw N215, 000 from his account and after noting a balance of N1.6m, decided to kill him. He was stabbed to death and his body disposed in the river at Upper Mission Extension axis of Benin City. They took his car with them.

This grave crime was committed under the cover of darkness and it remained a secret for a few days, as the police did not get wind of the crime until three days later when the victim’s wife reported her husband missing to the Anti-kidnapping Squad. Subsequent operation by the unit, led by Superintendent of Police Richard Balogun, culminated in the arrest of five suspects across different towns in Edo and Anambra states from November 26 to December 5.

The five suspects, identified as Chinedu Amah, 19, Chinonso Ozuora, 18, Moses Joseph, 19, Onyechika Emmanuel, 18 and Marvelous, 20, are presently detained by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Edo State Police Command.

The crime in brief
The alleged ring leader of the gang, Moses Joseph who claimed to be a native of Okene in Kogi State, but lived and worked as a driver in Benin City.

According to his confession, the gang of five, which had operated as armed robbers-cum-kidnappers, abducted the late Okunbor Oghogho at about 9 pm on November 21 at Iyaro Road.

“We deliberately hit his car (which is the method we used to kidnap victim) knowing that he would come down to check the extent of the damage on his car. Immediately he came out of his car, we grabbed him and threw him into the back seat and I took charge of the car. We relieved him of his phones and the N5, 000 cash in his pocket. We took his ATM card and drove him to First Bank PLC ATM Gallery at Sakponba Road, where we withdrew N215, 000 and confirmed the balance of N1.6million in his account.”

Thereafter, the gang took their hostage to Ikpoba River at Upper Mission Extension.

“Because he was struggling and arguing with us, I had to stab him severally at the back. We threw his body inside the river. I took his car, a Toyota Camry Saloon car (with number plate AGB26MN) to the house of one of our members, Marvelous, I gave him N2, 000 and his share of N54, 000.”

Joseph admitted he had been involved in several robberies and kidnappings in Benin City. “I followed different groups for operations,” he said. “When members of the gang were killed in an operation, I joined another gang. I once escaped in Uromi with handcuffs during an encounter with SARS operatives.”

Suspects, Onyechika Emmanuel, who found using the victim’s Samsung phone and Chinedu Amah, who claimed he was studying Mechanical Engineering at Auchi Polytechnic both corroborated the story, admitting they each received a share of N54, 000.

A widow’s demand

The deceased’s wife, Odion Oghegho narrated how she had waited in vain for her husband to return home on that fateful day.

“I didn’t see him and his phone was switched off. After three days, I went to the Anti-kidnapping unit on November 24, to report that my husband was missing. Then few days later, I heard that five suspects had been arrested and I was shocked to hear they confessed to have killed him and thrown his body into the river.”

The distraught widow insisted on finding her husband’s corpse in order to give him a befitting burial. “I got married to my husband three years ago. I have only one child for him. God, why me? I have confidence and trust in God. God will surely fight for me,” she wailed.

According to Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Tank Jimeta, Oghegho’s vehicle and phone had been recovered from his murderers. But the whereabouts of his corpse remained unresolved.

“When arrested, they took detectives to the river where they claimed they threw the body of the deceased. We didn’t see his corpse up till now,” he stated.

Police investigation is still ongoing to tie up the loose ends before charging the suspects to court.

D most senior among them is 19 yrs

And these ones were once called 'Leaders of Tomorrow'.

They had kidnapped him, used his UBA ATM card to withdraw N215, 000 from his account and after noting a balance of N1.6m, decided to kill him. He was stabbed to death and his body disposed in the river

Who did this?

Chinedu Amah, 19
Chinonso Ozuora, 18
Onyechika Emmanuel 18
Moses Joseph, 19, 
Marvelous, 20

From where?

Anambra

Their motto: It is better to die struggling than to be alive but poor

If what they made us understand is anything to go by, at an average age of 18, they should be undergraduates. But here they are, living by their motto at such tender age. Abi na school fees dem dey look for?

Though the blame should be placed at Buhari's doorstep for not creating a conducive environment for 18 yr old to be as rich as Bill Gates.

Continue deceiving yourselves until people can no longer ply your roads for security reasons.

dawnomike:
And these ones were once called 'Leaders of Tomorrow'.

Don't mind dem

Just imagine these bombinos. Lil kids wey toto water never dry for their head.

This all points to, a failed country/leadership, failed parentage, erosion of morals and values in our sustem, the quest to get rich at whatever cost just to get validation and respect from our societies that glamorizes and respects the money bags not minding how filthy their monies could be.

We are just messed up on all fronts I must submit. From bottom up, and from top to bottom.

There is no need to take them to court, police should give them all summary behavior with cellophane character..end every adjournment, bring the matter to an end as quickly as possible..we won't waste tax payers fund.. Useless beyond toiletries paper kids..

miko1988:
D most senior among them is 19 yrs

I think the police have a tradition of reducing the ages of suspects. Check most crime threads and compare age of suspects to their face

The way kids are rushing into crime this days. May God help our society.

Lesson learnt .
If them bash me for night forgive and go oooooo.

Say this guys surround me I go wan argue sef o like they are so young. Jeez.

Southern Nigeria and crime is like young girls and menstruation. Some have regular menstruation, some have irregular menstruation.

The only language they know and understand is crime. The pressure to make it big is just too much.

Even here on nairaland ( a place dominated by southerners), you hear words like:

my brother hustle oooo, make your girlfriend no dump you follow rich man ooo, hustle ooo, so that you go buy Benz next year, hustle oooo, make your village People know say you be big boy. Hustle ooo, make your children no ask you why you no be like Dangote.

Yet, you wonder why their region is filled with so many criminals, mostly youths from the ages of 16-45. Na the hustle de de hustle so.


The quest to make money at whatever cost has always been the average southerner's undoing.

Dear southerners, for once, be contented!

RIP to the dead.

Devils

[s]

blasted12:
Devils

[/s]

When I'm in naija, I always have more than one weapon concealed on me, two knives and sometimes pepper spray. Pepper spray is not for women alone.

Shibaraba:
Lesson learnt .
If them bash me for night forgive and go oooooo.

yes ooo bro

Officialgarri:
I think the police have a tradition of reducing the ages of suspects. Check most crime threads and compare age of suspects to their face

But not in dis case cuz I personally set my eyes on dem and even followed dem for d search of d corps

what a loss, all because of money

Simplyleo:
Who did this?

Chinedu Amah, 19
Chinonso Ozuora, 18
Onyechika Emmanuel 18
Moses Joseph, 19, 
Marvelous, 20

From where?

Anambra

Their motto: It is better to die struggling than to be alive but poor

If what they made us understand is anything to go by, at an average age of 18, they should be undergraduates. But here they are, living by their motto at such tender age. Abi na school fees dem dey look for?

Though the blame should be placed at Buhari's doorstep for not creating a conducive environment for 18 yr old to be as rich as Bill Gates.

Continue deceiving yourselves until people can no longer ply your roads for security reasons.

Just have sense.stop misyarning

Simplyleo:
Who did this?

Chinedu Amah, 19
Chinonso Ozuora, 18
Onyechika Emmanuel 18
Moses Joseph, 19, 
Marvelous, 20

From where?

Anambra

Their motto: It is better to die struggling than to be alive but poor

If what they made us understand is anything to go by, at an average age of 18, they should be undergraduates. But here they are, living by their motto at such tender age. Abi na school fees dem dey look for?

Though the blame should be placed at Buhari's doorstep for not creating a conducive environment for 18 yr old to be as rich as Bill Gates.

Continue deceiving yourselves until people can no longer ply your roads for security reasons.

Crime know no tribe...

Family is the smallest unit of the society. When we fail at the family level, the society fails. Parents are seriously failing in their duties.

Even the so called "good old days" everybody isn't rich yet contented. Guess no one is emphasising that anymore. The new motto is "if we no drive Benz wetin we gain". Pathetic!

Q