The Police have busted a notorious inter-state kidnapping syndicate operating in the Niger Delta, a statement said on Monday.

The statement by the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, seen on Monday by WuzupNigeria, said six suspected kidnappers were arrested.

The suspects include, one Long-John Franklin, 24, alias ‘General Soft’, who is said to be “an ex-convict and the head of the kidnappers camp in the creeks, and also engages in sea piracy and illegal oil refining”; Goodluck Ikiyou, 30, also known as ‘Last Born’; 19-year-old Chilowe Augustine; ThankGod Manasseh, 28, alias ‘Axe Man’, “who is the second in command of the deadly Icelanders confraternity.”

Others included a 24-year-old female, Ogeneima Omoni, “who is a member of the syndicate and cooked for the kidnappers in their den”, and one Chimaobi Nmeribe, 47.

Butswat, who stated that they were identified to be indigenes of Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa states, further said, “the suspects’ activities cut across Rivers State, Bayelsa State and Delta states.

“They have made useful statements and identified Innocent Awelo Luke, Anthony Awelo Luke, Makiava and one Ndubisi, a dismissed Civil Defence officer, as the fleeing gang members.”

He said that items recovered from them were two Toyota vehicles, pictorial and video evidence of ‘General Soft’ and Chilowe Augustine displaying ransom collected from a kidnap victim.

Butswat added that investigation was ongoing to track down the fleeing members of the gang.