The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday paraded one Christopher Kalu, who works as a driver with Access Bank, but gives information about the bank customers and top officials to kidnappers and armed robbers.

Kalu was among over 44 suspected criminals, including kidnappers and armed robbers arrested by the State Police Command.

Speaking with newsmen, Kalu disclosed that he gave information about the manager of his bank to kidnappers, who had planned to abduct him (bank manager) before he had a change of mind.

Kalu explained that the suspected kidnappers entered the bank to properly identify the bank manager, adding that he later showed them (hoodlums) the manager’s Honda car.

A native of Ukwa East Local Government Area in Abia State, Kalu, who is 31 years old, said some of those kidnapped by the gang were kept in his sister’s house on Aka Road near Navy Gate in Rivers State.

Narrating his criminal activities, he said,

“I work in Access Bank and I am a driver. I was working in Mile One Branch before I was transferred to Mile 3 Branch. When I was in Mile One Branch last year, I gave information to a group of armed robbers and kidnappers about a customer of ours, who usually came to deposit money in our bank.

“One Chinedu, who is a bus driver had approached me and asked me if I had a person that lodges huge sums of money in our bank. The man, Chinedu, said he could arrange a group of guys, who could rob the customer of the money.

“Later, I secretly showed him (Chinedu) a customer in Sangana, who is a businessman. After sometimes, I did not have their contact any longer.

“When I went to my new branch, they (kidnappers) told me they know my manager and that they want to kidnap him. They then asked me to give them information on when he comes into the bank, when he leaves and the car he uses. I gave them the information and they (kidnappers) later came into the bank to properly identify the man.

“I also showed them (kidnappers) the bank manager’s Honda car; it was on a Wednesday and they promised to kidnap him on Thursday. When I got home, my conscience pricked me and I lied to the kidnappers that the bank manager has travelled.

“I then gave them information on the Senior Marketer of the bank. They warned me that if I expose them, they would deal with me. My sister has a building on Aka Road, before Navy Gate, where we take kidnapped victims to. She does not know about what I am doing. I had earlier taken two members of the kidnap gang to the house.”

Kalu also narrated how he was given N35,000 after a bank robbery by one of the gangs he usually provided with information, adding that he was later told by a member of the gang that went for the operation that the sum of N3.5 million was taken away from the bank.

“After some time, there was a serious robbery in a bank along Ikwerre road; the man (robber) then called me that they were responsible for the robbery. He later called me and promised to give me some money. When I went to see him, he gave me N35,000. I later learnt that it was N3.5 million they robbed from the bank.

“It is in my sister’s house we usually kept the kidnap victims. Two weeks ago, a lady was kidnapped and brought to the house. After ransom was paid, They (kidnappers) gave me N60,000. My salary as a driver in the bank is N45,000. I went into crime because I allowed the Devil to make use of me.”

Earlier, the State Police Commissioner, Usman Belel told newsmen that measures had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free inauguration of Governor Nyesom Wike for a second term in office.

Belel warned trouble makers to stay away from the event, saying,

“For the umpteenth time, I want to say that the Rivers State Police Command will not tolerate, condole or welcome any act that will undermine or compromise the security situation in the state before, during and after the swearing-in.

“I call on those issuing threats to disrupt and disorganise the event to jettison the idea as quick as possible or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law, as the Command will not fail to wield significant big stick in the circumstance.”

He, however, stated that all suspects arrested by the police would be charged to court at the end of the ongoing investigation.

Punch