Edo State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with a failed attempt to kidnap the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank, Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, Mr Ralphael Ibodeme.
Tribune Online gathered that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off by the third member of the gang, had a change of mind and revealed the plan to the police authorities in Ekpoma.
One of the suspects, Felix Alika, who happens to be a security staff of the bank was caught on the web as the chief architect of the scheme, which he designed as payback for the alleged battles he had been having with the bank manager.
To cover up, Alika, upon arrest, claimed that the bank manager had been responsible for the series of bank robberies in the locality, an allegation the police believed to be a scheme to rope in the manager and create an escape route for himself.
Alika, Nigerian Tribune gathered, held the grudge that Ibodeme was responsible for his inability to rise within the bank structures, accusing the bank manager of not giving him favourable appraisals that could have led to his (Alika’s) promotion within the system.
It was however gathered that there had been a high level of insubordination on the part of Alika, which made the said Mr lbodeme take some administrative decisions.
Alika, the police said, connected one Akhere who was to hire other heinous gang members to kidnap the bank manager.
Basiru Suleiman was also allegedly contacted to join in the move to kidnap the said Mr Ibodeme.
Few days to the planned day of the Kidnapping operation, the said Akhere changed his mind and reported the matter to the police in Ekpoma.
This report prompted the police to arrest the security guard,Alika, after Suleiman was lured to their rendezvous, by Akhere, who was encouraged by the police to tag along with the plan.
Upon arrest, Alika raised a false alarm that the bank boss is also a criminal too, accusing him of being behind the attacks in some banks in Edo state.
But the police viewed his allegation as a move to divert investigation, especially when he did not lodge such a complaint with any security agency until he was arrested.
“Yes, l can confirm that Mr Ibodeme, the Bank manager and myself have been having quarrel for some time now”, Alika volunteered to the police.
Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Bello Kontongs, confirmed the arrest, saying, “The report from Anti kidnapping squad in our Command said the security guard, Felix Alika, lied against Mr Ralphael Ibodeme.”
The PPRO assured that the two suspects would be charged to court for attempted Kidnapping.
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