Delta authorities uncover a 4-man syndicate that assisted kidnappers with ransom payments. Discover the latest details of their confession.
Four members of a syndicate have confessed to working with kidnappers by offering them bank accounts for receiving ransom payments from victims in Delta State.
The suspects, hailing from Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively, revealed that they were rewarded with 15% of the ransom money for their participation.
During a recorded video moderated by Delta State Police Spokesperson, Bright Edafe and shared through his X handle, one suspect admitted that they solely contacted him for the account to release the ransom. He elaborated on how he received three separate transfers of money amounting to N3.6 million,N4.3 million and N200,000 but only obtained an equivalent of N530,000 from the first payment while Maxwell -the primary suspect- directed all other funds towards kidnappers’ accounts after receiving them in his own personal account .
The suspect acknowledged having knowledge of the funds’ nature and disclosed that he and his accomplices employed the crime profits to construct websites used for internet scams. Maxwell owned up to communicating with kidnappers as early as April 2024.
He clarified that the kidnappers were sent the balance of money minus 15% initially taken by the account holder, while his commission was received through a Point of Sale (POS) system in cash.
Bright Edafe encouraged the inhabitants to report any incident of kidnapping to the police, regardless of whether it occurred before, during or after. He urged those living in Delta State to have faith in law enforcement and stated that catching perpetrators is crucial for society’s safety.
Edafe emphasized the significance of public cooperation in safeguarding the community while stating that some suspects were not being displayed due to ongoing investigations. He further mentioned, “The outcome resulting from the victim reporting to the command is noteworthy.”
