Etim Effiong
The operatives of Zone 2 Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have arrested six suspected hoodlums for kidnapping a police inspector and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ogun State.
Both the policewoman inspector and the NSCDC operative were said to have been set free upon payment of ransom.
It was learnt that those who perpetrate the kidnap and killing of innocent Nigerians operate under three different deadly kidnap syndicates of young men, who have serial records of kidnapping and killings in the Southwest zone.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police of the zone, Lawal Shehu, said on Wednesday in Lagos that as soon as he received information about the marauders, he directed his Monitoring Tactical Unit to ensure they track down the heinous perpetrators, of which six of them who operated in three different groups, were apprehended.
According to him, it was later discovered that the criminals mounted a roadblock on Ayetoro-Abeokuta Road in Yewa area of Ogun State during which the woman inspector ran into them on May 4 around 5.25pm in Ayetoro.
He stated that while the hoodlums were manhandling the police inspector, the driver of a car coming behind attempted to escape their onslaught but had to pay with his dear life as they opened fire at him.
“These heartless animals in human skin, targeted the driver and opened fire on him. Sadly, their bullet hit him and he died.
“Thereafter, the other female occupant of the vehicle was kidnapped alongside the woman inspector, taken into a forest for three days before releasing them, after payment of ransoms by their relatives.
“In the case of the NSCDC official, he kept some cattle in the custody of one of the boys to graze. It was the same boy that gave him out to the gang.
“Identified as Are, he was kidnapped on his way to the farm at Eggua in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“He was held in captivity for three days in the forest before he regained his freedom on the payment of N3m ransom. Similarly, one Alhaji Oro, a big-time cattle rearer, who had his farm in Eggua, was kidnapped on his way to the farm and held for four days.
“Despite payment of the demanded N4m ransom, these boys shot and killed him. These groups traced another target, identified as Umaru at Awaiye in Oyo State, trekked from Ogun State and were on the road for two weeks.
“They ambushed him on his way to the farm and successfully seized him. He was in their captivity for two days and were able to meet the kidnappers’ demand of N1m for his release,” he said.
He said the suspects are Adamu Saliu, 25; Ibrahim Mohammed, 33; Abubakar Sadiq, 24; Tambaye Mohammed, 25; Adamu Sulaiman, aged not stated but adult; Akanni Musa, 38 years.
The police also recovered five AK47 rifles from the hoodlums.
Adamu disclosed that in another development, the same syndicates targeted one Alhaji Adegoke, near Iseyin in Oyo State, during which they made a demand of N25m ransom from his relatives.
He said, “But while that was on, one of them with AK47 rifle was on his guard while others went out for yet another operation. It was at this point that fate played in the victim’s favour.
“The man on guard slept off and Alhaji Adegoke escaped. He cleverly hid himself in the forest to the extent that, on realising his escape, the raging kidnappers, in their large number, scattered into the forest, shooting sporadically with an intent to kill him.
“But, today, the man is hale and hearty while six of the evil perpetrators are here with us, to pay for their long-time evil deeds.”