How food flask is ransom flask--- CP Disu

 The Rivers State police command has revealed how food flask is not just meant for food storage but a method being used by  kidnappers to collect cash ransom from thier victims' families. 

This was revealed during the rescue of a hotelier by the police in the state. 

 

The Commissioner of Police Rivers State police command CP Olatunji Disu in a press briefing said the victim is a famous hotelier in Port Harcourt, Rivers State whom the alleged kidnappers shot at three times before they abducted him on December 19th, 2023, along Artillery in Port Harcourt . 

He said " The kidnappers demanded a sum of N26 million from his family to guarantee his release. The said sum was paid, but the abductors refused to release the victim.The family was on the verge of paying another ransom when they informed the Police on the 30th of December 2023 of the kidnap. The kidnappers towards the end of December 2023, had taken the victim’s car to a panel beater and vehicle spray-painter whom they had contracted to change the colour of the car. This alerted police officers, who had an encounter with the kidnappers, but they escaped."

CP Disu added that on Tuesday, 9th of January 2024, an officer of the command responding to intelligence gathered went to the hide-out of the kidnappers in Agbonchia forest in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, where the victim was rescued. One of the kidnappers got injured while exchanging gunfire with the Police.

One AK 47, six sets of fake army camouflage uniforms and two magazines were recovered from the suspects. Also recovered were two vehicles: a Lexus Rx 350 and a Lexus 33.

The Kidnappers had a practice of receiving ransom from their victim delivered in food flasks in dollar bills.

The CP gave assurances that the Police were trailing other members of the gang and were close to arresting them. He also revealed that the injured kidnapper as well as the kidnapped victim were both receiving treatment in the hospital.

The victim, whose identity is withheld for security reasons told journalists who visited the hospital that he saw hell while in the kidnapper's den and had no words for the horrors he faced. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the police for rescuing him.