How businessman turned church premises into kidnappers’ den in Delta

Suspected kidnapper, Victor Dominic Ovo, turned church premises into a kidnappers’ den to divert attention in Agbarho community in Ughelli North area of Delta State.

Ovo, who owns an exotic building in the community was generous enough to donate a part of the building to a pastor, who has been using the space as a fellowship centre.

But what the pastor and other members of the community did not know was that the well-built bungalow believed to be the residential apartment of this ‘successful businessman’ was nothing but a hideout where several kidnap victims were kept.

According to The SUN, Dominic is a leading member of a notorious kidnap gang whose members have been smartly picking high profile persons in the state. He and three others identified as Owesi Okpaka, Lawrence Kevwe Egagah, Alex Okoun and Usobotie Sylvester were arrested when of one their victims summoned courage and petitioned the Inspector General of Police.

The victim, identified as Daniel, a staff of Zenith Bank, Urhobo College Branch, Warri said that he was kidnapped on October 5, 2020 about 8am by heavily armed men who took him to a house at Agbarho community.

Recounting his ordeal, Daniel said that he was on his way to work when he was trailed and abducted by heavily armed men.

He said: “On October 5, 2020 about 8am, I was abducted by a gang of kidnappers. There were four of them in a Mercedes Benz Car; I’m not too sure of the colour of the vehicle. Another car that I had also seen opposite my street followed and blocked me from the rear. I was taken into the Mercedes Benz and we went to a location suspected to be Agbarho community, owing to the duration and number of turns we made before I was dropped. I was kept in a bungalow and made to stay in the passage of the building. The building had four rooms, two toilets, a kitchen and I could hear women fetching water in a well. I was blindfolded, chained in both hands and legs. During the negotiation, they would take me and drive around while I was allowed to talk to my family. I was there for five days and my family paid N15 million before I was released on October 10 2020.”

Narrating why he used church building as hideout for kidnap victims, Dominic, a native of Oghara in Sapelle Local Government Area of Delta State said it was to divert attention

He claimed that he was the one who handled the negotiation of ransom.