Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), yesterday, arrested four ex-militant leaders over their involvement in the September kidnap of an Italian, Carmello Stella and the unlawful demand of N120 million as ransom before the release of their victim.
The Italian, an expatriate worker, was the Project Director of the Moreno Company handling the Ogbia-Nembe road project in the state.
Parading the suspects yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Director of SSS, Mr. Andrew Iorkyar, said most of the so-called third phase ex-militants who are not beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s amnesty have resorted to kidnap taking and oil pipeline vandalisation.
The arrested ex-millitants are: Dandy Theophilus (32), Johnson Fredrick Paul (32), Ebi Steve (21) and Emmanuel Mathew (23).
Iorkyar said the arrested ex-militants took Carmelo Stella, an Italian to Kimini community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa and demanded for N120 million as ransom fee.
The SSS Director however said his command’s operatives were however able to secure the release of the kidnapped expatriate after 24 hours in the accused persons’ captivity at Ogbia waterways, and also arrested four of the kidnappers, while one is still at large.
He noted that arrangements have been concluded to take them to court.