<<Print>>

The mastermind of the recent child kidnappings from churches in the Accra metropolis was Sunday arrested by the police, along with his accomplice. That was after the suspect had picked up the ransom for the release of the fourth child he had kidnapped at the Lighthouse Chapel International at Kaneshie in Accra. Ernest Kwabena Koomson, alias Ernest Abotsi, a 27-year-old self-styled pastor, is believed to be behind the abduction of three children in separate operations between December 1 and 15, 2013. The police had trailed Koomson and his accomplice, Isaac Ntie, a 19-year-old unemployed, after the kidnapping of a 10-year-old son of one of the pastors of the Lighthouse Chapel. Sensitisation in 70 churches The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, told journalists in Accra yesterday that police commanders and their men under the Accra Police Region visited 70 churches in the city as part of a sensitisation programme in reaction to the recent abductions. He said it was in the course of the programme that the police had information on the alleged kidnapping of the 10-year-old boy at the Lighthouse Chapel. The incident happened 30 minutes after the police had left the church after educating the congregation on personal security and how to take care of their children. The IGP said the kidnappers adducted the boy and demanded GH�5,000, with a 45-minute ultimatum to pay the ransom or they would kill him. Kidnappings on Sundays He said the first kidnapping took place at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), where a 10-year-old boy was abducted, on December 1, 2013. The kidnappers demanded GH�2,500 from the boy�s parents, who paid without involving the police. On December 8, 2013, another kidnapping incident took place at the Winners Chapel International at North Kaneshie, where a nine-year-old girl was taken hostage. Her parents parted with GH�3,000 before she was released. The third kidnapping, which involved a 10-year-old boy, took place at the Grace Outreach Church on December 15, 2013 and the kidnappers demanded GH�3,000. In all the instances enumerated, the children were released unharmed at places indicated by the kidnapper after the ransom had been paid. The boy at the centre of yesterday�s incident had been held hostage in the kidnapper�s rented room in a compound house at Darkuman in Accra. Even though in all the instances the victims appeared traumatised, their parents were happy to have been united with their children. The police believed that Koomson and Ntie were behind all the kidnappings. Parents� co-operation Mr Alhassan commended the parents of the children who were kidnapped for co-operating with the police and the media for their support in educating the public on general safety and how to train children to be security concious. �It was not the singular effort of the police that led to this success; it was a partnership which led to the arrest of the suspect and his accomplice. The police will strive to make Ghana safe,� the IGP declared. Modus operandi The police said the kidnappers visited a particular church on Sunday and picked up a child, from whom they acquire the phone number of his or her parents. The kidnappers then called the parents to inform them that their child had been kidnapped and that they should pay a quoted amount or the child would be killed. The parents were then told where to drop the money and also warned not to involve the police. When the money is dropped at the point, the accomplice goes there to pick it up and then joins the mastermind, who had been waiting on a motorbike close by and then the two take off. Later, the parents are told where to find their children, either by the roadside or in front of the Darkuman chief�s house, as was the case in the earlier abductions.