How kidnap kingpin, Kelvin, tricked Delta police boss

ASABA —  THE most wanted kidnap kingpin in Delta State, Kelvin, suspected to be a drug addict, ambushed and killed three officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, Warri, with his gang, 48 hours after he phoned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, begging for amnesty.
Aduba, who thought he was dealing with a remorseful hoodlum called his boss, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, minutes after  his discussion with Kelvin ended, March 11, to narrate what transpired and obtain his permission.
Aduba, who spoke during a Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Asaba, Showtime programme, said the IGP  was not opposed to granting him official pardon.
Kelvin had promised the commissioner that he would assist the police to smash the kidnap industry in the state and the Inspector General predicated his imprimatur on his surrendering arms and cooperating with the police.
Unknown to Commissioner Aduba, it was a hoax, as the kidnap kingpin, currently on the run, struck two days after with a gang of nine gunmen and successfully freed two notorious kidnap suspects, identified as Rufus and Frank, from warders, while they were taken to court on March 13.
Aduba said the kingpin had not been arrested since then because information about his whereabouts was in short supply.
Aduba said from his findings, the kidnap kingpin was on drugs and speaks like a human being when he is sane, but once he had sniffed, would behave like a monster.
He attributed the prowess of Kelvin to a shrine in Kokori, known as Egba, which he said most of the people owed allegiance to, stressing that information at his disposal indicated the person that could neutralize Kelvin’s powers was the Ose Egba (chief priest).
He said his initial plan was to blow up the shrine, where Kokori people go to renew their charms, but he changed the idea to see how the chief priest could assist the police in the task of checkmating the kidnap kingpin.