Suspects: We Dropped Jonathan's Name To Kidnap Okonjo-Iweala's Mother.

Gunmen who kidnapped the mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have confessed that they dropped the name of President Goodluck Jonathan in the operation.

The gang had lied to the kidnapped mother of the minister, a queen, that the president was inviting her in connection with a huge amount of money misappropriated by her daughter.

Eight more members of the syndicate have been arrested by the police in Lagos State.

The gang was also said to have been responsible for the kidnap and death of an old woman, Mrs Regina Obi Dainty, who was killed after it collected N2 million ransom.

The arrested suspects were, on Monday afternoon, paraded before newsmen by the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who threatened to make the state inhabitable for criminals.

Manko gave the names of the suspects as Jideofor Ogbue, Michael Ojeabulu, Endurance Oke, Ibrahim Abubakar, Buhari Hamadora, Hassan Oseni, Chiejine Onochie and Chukwuma Okoh.

The leader of the gang, Ogbue, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, said the gang used the name of President Jonathan to draw the queen out of the palace.

He also confessed that a former messenger at the palace, Victor Onochie, assisted them with basic information that helped the gang in the operation.

“Yes, we used Jonathan’s name. We told her that the the president want to see her in connection with some money that her daughter embezzled,” he said.

Jideofor also revealed that the gang collected N13 million before the minister’s mother was actually released, adding that he collected N2 million as his own share.

Onochie also confessed to have connived with the gang to kidnap the minister’s mother, but blamed it on his desire to improve his status.

Manko, while briefing newsmen, shortly before the parade of the suspects, said they were arrested by men of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), led by Abba Kyari.

In a similar dvelopment , four members of a robbery gang terrorising residents of Ajah and Lekki have also been arrested by the police.

The suspects, Kazeem Adebola , Yunusa Lateef, Ibraheem Akanbi and Oluwale Kosoko, were said to be responsible for the killing of four policemen in Elemoro area of the state.

Recovered from them were five AK-47 rifle, 31 AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition and a Honda Civic car.....