The Edo State Police Command has arrested 19-year-old Godstime Abhulime for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old pupil and demanding N300,000 in ransom.
The State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye who confirmed the development said the suspect kidnapped the boy, a primary school student from Emaudo in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
CP Adegboye who spoke with newsmen on Sunday noted thae the culprit would be arraigned shortly.
Sunday Telegraph also learnt that the suspect, who is connected to the victim, lured the kid out of the house and took her away on a motorcycle to an unknown location.
An unidentified source close to the family told reporters that the perpetrator and his accomplices held the youngster captive for two days before contacting her parents to negotiate a ransom.
According to the source, Destiny, also known as ‘Paulo’, one of the suspect’s accomplices, approached the victim’s family members and sought a N7 million ransom.
He further stated that; the victim’s family reported the crime to the Ekpoma divisional police office, which tracked down the suspect.
He claimed that; after considerable discussion and fearing that the kidnappers might injure the victim, the family paid N300,000 for the girl’s release.
“One of the suspects, Godstime who is the relation to the victim was later arrested and confessed to the police they kidnapped the baby in order to get money to bail themselves from some cult members who threatened to kill them,” the source said.