Karowei, alleged killer of army captain, British missionaries arrested in Delta

Alleged kidnapper and killer of Ian Squire and three other British missionaries in Delta, Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo, alias Karowei, has been reportedly arrested.

Troops attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) codenamed Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), had been, in the past few weeks, combing the creeks to flush out criminals as well as arrest deadly ones like Karowei.

Karowei and his gang, it will be recalled, kidnapped four British medical missionaries Enekorogha community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State on October 13 and by the time the hostages were freed on November 9, Dr Ian Squire was found dead.

Karowei, whom the Delta Police placed a ransom of N2 million for his arrest, was also allegedly the mastermind of the killing and beheading of a Captain of the Nigerian Army who was on an undercover duty to get him arrested.

The kidnap kingpin was also believed to be behind the recent unrest and faceoff with the armed forces in Toru-Ndoro community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Amid sketchy reports on the suspect’s arrest on Thursday, sources said he voluntarily surrendered himself to the troops at Ogbogbagbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Karowei, described as a notorious kidnapper, murderer, armed robber and leader of a gang involved in several criminal activities, had been on the run after the outrage over the kidnap and death of Dr Squire.

A source from Enekorogha said Karowei surrendered himself to men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation
Delta Safe (OPDS) on Thursday.

He added that the surrender must have been made easier by the intervention of the Bayelsa State government.

The Commander of the OPDS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, he would be addressing the press for proper briefing later.

Apochi had been on the trail of Karowei since November 15, 2017, when the army also declared him wanted, during a visit to Enekorogha community.

Karowei abducted Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan and Dr Squire who eventually died in his custody.

Dr and Mrs Donovan and others had reportedly lived in Nigeria for the past 14 years, while running a Christian charity called New Foundations, which offered aid to remote villages in the Niger Delta.

Donovan and his remaining crew were reported to have given their word to the effect of returning to the community yo continue their eye test be the treatment of folks in February if Karowei, the mastermind of the dastardly act was arrested.

Ekenerogha had been thrown into mourning since the kidnap and death of Dr Squire, whom they described as an angel sent by God to deliver them from blindness.

Karowei, before his arrest according to the leader of the community, Prince Michael Ogobiri, had vowed to carry out reprisal for the arrest of his relative after the army began a manhunt for him and his gang.