By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Efforts of the Police at depleting the ranks of kidnappers across the country have continued to record successes, as police detectives have arrested eight suspects in Lagos and Rivers States in recent operations.
Three of the suspects were arrested in Lagos, with two victims rescued by operatives attached to the headquarters of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, while five others were nabbed by detectives of the Rivers Police Command.
In a statement yesterday, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said the unwavering commitment in combating the menace of kidnapping within in the state led to the successful arrest of the five individuals suspected to be involved in various criminal activities, including kidnapping and cultism.
According to her, the investigation that led to the arrest of the suspects was initiated following a report made by the management of Lujo Heights Homes on January 19, 2024.
She said the report detailed the disappearance of four staff members during a routine property inspection in Okocha Community, Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area.
“Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, there was no response from the missing individuals.
“Through meticulous intelligence-gathering efforts, the police apprehended four suspects believed to be connected to the incident”, she said.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Yahaya Bello, Aliyu Usman, Sule Abubakar, and Abdullahi Adamu.
Iringe-Koko stated that during questioning, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the abduction of the victims, as well as the subsequent destruction of the Toyota Sequoia SUV they were traveling in.
“The victims, who endured a harrowing ordeal in the forests of Etche, recounted being subjected to inhumane treatment and constant threats of death unless a ransom of ₦300,000,000 was paid for their release.
“Investigations revealed that these individuals are part of a criminal network predominantly comprised of Fulani individuals operating under the guise of cattle rearers, they have been engaged in a series of kidnappings across Rivers, Delta, and Edo states.
“In Port Harcourt, they had taken up residence in Valley Decision Estate, where they deceitfully convinced the community to grant them access to the land, purportedly for protection against land grabbers.
“Aliyu Usman, aged 33 and hailing from Kebbi State, emerged as a central figure in the criminal operations. He had been working as a security guard in Valley Decision Estate, Rumukwurushi, facilitating the infiltration of criminals . Aliyu has a previous history of involvement in armed robbery.
“Sule Abubakar, aged 25 was brought into the gang by Aliyu with the aim of strengthening their criminal activities in Port Harcourt. During interrogation, Sule confessed to his participation in his first kidnapping assignment in Edo State, alongside his elder brother who is currently at large.
“Abdullahi Adamu, aged 20 from Taraba State, had recently arrived in Port Harcourt and was undergoing training in criminal operations under the guidance of Aliyu.
“Furthermore, Mallam Yahaya, who had been supplying food to the captors, was also apprehended. He admitted to receiving a sum of ₦470,000 as his share of the ransom.
“During the operations, the police were able to recover two locally-made pistols, two smartphones, and a black Toyota Sequoia belonging to the gang. Investigations are currently underway to apprehend other members of the criminal network who are still at large”, Iringe-Koko stated.
In another operation, the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command, as stated by Iringe-Koko successfully arrested a notorious cultist and kidnapper known as Godfrey Odum.
Godfrey, she said was implicated in the abduction of Precious Chukwu, a student of Elechi Amadi Polytechnic.
“The victim was eventually released after being robbed of her belongings. Godfrey has confessed to the crime and has provided crucial information regarding the identities of other gang members involved”, Iringe-Koko said.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu, expressed his commendation for the outstanding efforts of the officers of Rivers State Police Command in combatting crime and ensuring the safety of residents.
He advised residents to be careful when hiring security personnel and reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to rid the state of criminal elements.
The Commissioner urged all residents to remain law-abiding citizens and to cooperate with the police in their efforts to maintain peace and security within the state.
“The Rivers State Police Command continues to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and protection of all residents. The public is urged to provide any relevant information that may assist in ongoing investigations”, Iringe-Koko stated.
In the case of the three suspects nabbed in Lagos, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Ayuba T. Umma in a statement identified them to include Kwasi Samuel, 64, Unnachukwu Monday,24, and Freeman Ekpebo, 23.
She noted that the operation was successfully carried out as a result of its swift operation.
The statement narrated as follows:
On March 26, 2024 at about 06:00hrs, a resident of Millionaire Estate, Oniru, Lagos, reported the kidnap of her 10yrs old son, maid (names withheld for security reasons) and driver, Mr. Samuel Kwasi ‘m’ at the Ikoyi area of Lagos. She further revealed that the kidnappers demanded One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150, 000,000:00k) ransom.
Acting on this intelligence, a team of detectives led by *CSP Tijjani Taofiq* (Officer-in-Charge of the Zonal Monitoring Unit) acted swiftly utilizing advanced tracking techniques and intelligence gathering. The team pinpointed the kidnappers’ hideout in the Ayetoro area of Ijanikin, Badagry road, Lagos.
On March 28, 2024, at approximately 3:40 PM, officers raided the hideout at Cozzy Hotel, Ijanikin where one of the suspects Nnachukwu Monday ‘m’ was arrested and the victims rescued unharmed.
In a coordinated operation, Mr. Samuel Kwasi, the driver and one Freeman Ekpebo ‘m’ were apprehended at Sun Era Hotel, Ijanikin, where they were allegedly waiting to receive the ransom. Investigation revealed Mr. Kwasi to be the principal suspect and mastermind of the kidnap.
Mr. Kwasi 64 has confessed to demobilizing the car’s tracking device before the operation. Meanwhile, the Car’s Tracking Device and a Knife were recovered from the Hotel room at Sun Era Hotel, Ijanikin where the suspects were lodged.
While commending the Police Officers for their swift response, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge Zone 2 Command, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi appreciated the community for their cooperation and vigilance.
He also urged parents and guardians to be cautious and conduct thorough background checks when employing domestic staff.
Durosinmi assured that the Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Lagos and Ogun states.
