Police arrest three over ‘kidnap’ of sawmill operator, ‘N7.5m’ ransom in Edo

The Edo police command says its operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers after they abducted a sawmill operator identified as Vivian Diode.

Moses Yamu, police spokesperson in Edo, said operatives arrested the suspects on April 10 in the Eyaen area along the Benin-Auchi road.

Yamu said the suspects, Asemota Osamede, 38; Michael Tomminiwei, 43; and Kelly Aitoya, 34, allegedly collected over N75 million in ransom from at least 10 victims between January 2024 and April 2025.

He said the suspects made Diode transfer N1.5 million from her bank account and then demanded an additional N6 million from her family.

The police spokesperson added that a week after she regained freedom, the suspects allegedly contacted her family again, threatening to kidnap or kill her if an extra N3 million was not paid.

“The case concerning the kidnapping of Vivian — the suspects have been arrested and investigations completed. They would be charged to court,” Yamu said.