ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Vigilante Service (BSVS) has nabbed a suspected ritualist, Mr Ebere Nwosu, aged 49, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The suspect was arrested while allegedly attempting to lure three minors to an unknown destination along the popular Tombia-Etegwe roundabout in Yenagoa.
It was learnt that Nwosu was apprehended after a close observation by BSVS operatives of his “unholy” interaction with the minors who were hawking sachet water, popularly known as pure water.
It was gathered that the BSVC operatives, stationed at Tombia roundabout, noticed that at about 5:pm on Monday, the suspect was engaging the minors in a suspicious conversation while making several phone calls to unknown persons.
The names of two of the three minors were given as Rejoice Efe, 11 and Success Obaru 12, both from Delta State.
It was learnt that one of the operatives after several minutes of observation from a distance approached the suspect to ask what the problem was and why he held up the minors.
The suspect, rather than responding to the operative’s question, reportedly took to his heels, an action that prompted the BSVS men to pursue him and later succeeded in arresting him.
The Chairman, BSVS, Hon. Doubiye Alagba, who was on the ground while the event played out, confirmed the development, saying that they suspected all was not well with the minors and decided to confront the suspect.
Alagba stated: “Our men observed how the suspect had kept the three minors busy for several minutes and wondered what he was up to. It was at the point of his several phone calls and serious discussions with the three minors that we quickly asked one of our men to approach him for interrogation.
“But when he was approached by our operative, instead of explaining his mission, he immediately took to his heels. Then we realised that he had a sinister motive and we gave him a chase. The suspect was caught later by our men.”
He said after catching and arresting the suspect, the operatives asked one of the minors, Rejoice Efe, what Nwosu was discussing with them.
According to Alagba, one of the minors, Efe, said as follows: “We were hawking along the road only for this uncle (Nwosu) to call us that he wanted to buy pure water from us. We ran towards him and opened our bucket waiting for him to buy the pure water. Instead of buying, he started making utterances first to my sister and asked me to wait.
“In the process, he started making several calls. We became scared and insisted that if he was not buying the water again, we should take our leave.
“But he kept telling us to wait. He told my sister and I that he liked us and that he would take care of us. He also asked how he would see us later.
“We became more scared and it was at that point that one uncle (BSVS operative), came and asked him what he was telling us and he started running immediately and they caught him.”
Alagba said that the suspect (Nwosu) had already been handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command, for further investigations.