Mass abduction: The new approach by Lagos kidnappers
LAST year, following incessant incidents of kidnapping across the length and breadth of Lagos state in particular and the southwest region in general, the Nigerian Police Force and other security operatives rose up to the challenge posed by the rampaging abductors and managed to slow down the criminal wheel of the menace by foiling many kidnap attempts, securing the releases of already kidnaped persons before ransom could be paid and bringing many abductors into the dragnet of the law.
But just as Nigerians in the affected states were about to start rejoicing over the development, it appears the many gangs of kidnappers operating in the axis have deployed a new way of carrying on with their horrendous business without easily falling into the hands of law enforcement agents. In this piece, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, who investigated a couple of recent kidnap cases, reports that mass abduction of defenseless commuters and other citizens, may be the new trick being employed by criminal gangs to beat the many traps of security operatives.
CHANGE, they say, is the only constant thing in life. This popular
maxim may have been found useful even by criminal elements in Lagos State
following reports that kidnappers have devised new ways of abducting people.
Apparently finding the going tough in the face of increasing onslaught from the security agencies, criminal gangs in the business of abducting innocent citizen and demanding ransom, have resorted to blocking highways, forcing private and commercial vehicles to a stop and carefully selecting victims before disappearing with them into the bush.
What follows is phone calls to relations of the victims to pay ransom if they want their loved ones freed.
There have been at least three of such instances on the Lagos/Ikorodu Road lately, and there are suggestions that the new style is an attempt by kidnappers to avoid deadly face-offs with security operatives who, on their part, are determined not to let the Lagos State government and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode down after investing massively in the provision of security gadgets.
“It is understandable if criminals in the state try to find means of beating security networks,” Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police in the State, told The Nation.
“ It is a sign that they have also realised that the state is no longer conducive for criminals. But rather than try to introduce any trick, my advice to criminals living or operating in Lagos is that they either quit crime or relocate because no matter what they do, we will get them,” he declared.
In the last couple of weeks, kidnappers have displayed uncanny effrontery by abducting, in one single swoop, not one person, not two and not even ten, usually in broad daylight, and escaping with them in speed boats, into the swamps.
A few hours later they would call, one by one, relations of the kidnapped to demand ransom, before the unlucky ones would be left of the hook.
And while security operatives are busy working out strategies on how to stem the latest trend, kidnappers are having a field day test running their new formula on abduction.
Mass abductions have been reported in Isheri North , Arepo , Ikorodu and even Itoikin-Epe.
Consequently, the common saying that there is no hiding place for criminals in a well policed society appears reversed to suggest that there is no hiding place for citizens in a society where kidnappers now see brisk opportunities, not only in abducting wealthy or prominent individuals, but in also stopping commercial buses and kidnapping commuters.
Apparently finding the going tough in the face of increasing onslaught from the security agencies, criminal gangs in the business of abducting innocent citizen and demanding ransom, have resorted to blocking highways, forcing private and commercial vehicles to a stop and carefully selecting victims before disappearing with them into the bush.
What follows is phone calls to relations of the victims to pay ransom if they want their loved ones freed.
There have been at least three of such instances on the Lagos/Ikorodu Road lately, and there are suggestions that the new style is an attempt by kidnappers to avoid deadly face-offs with security operatives who, on their part, are determined not to let the Lagos State government and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode down after investing massively in the provision of security gadgets.
“It is understandable if criminals in the state try to find means of beating security networks,” Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police in the State, told The Nation.
“ It is a sign that they have also realised that the state is no longer conducive for criminals. But rather than try to introduce any trick, my advice to criminals living or operating in Lagos is that they either quit crime or relocate because no matter what they do, we will get them,” he declared.
In the last couple of weeks, kidnappers have displayed uncanny effrontery by abducting, in one single swoop, not one person, not two and not even ten, usually in broad daylight, and escaping with them in speed boats, into the swamps.
A few hours later they would call, one by one, relations of the kidnapped to demand ransom, before the unlucky ones would be left of the hook.
And while security operatives are busy working out strategies on how to stem the latest trend, kidnappers are having a field day test running their new formula on abduction.
Mass abductions have been reported in Isheri North , Arepo , Ikorodu and even Itoikin-Epe.
Consequently, the common saying that there is no hiding place for criminals in a well policed society appears reversed to suggest that there is no hiding place for citizens in a society where kidnappers now see brisk opportunities, not only in abducting wealthy or prominent individuals, but in also stopping commercial buses and kidnapping commuters.
A dangerous trend
While many Lagosians were still thanking God for making them see the new year, news broke on Wednesday, the 4th of January, that suspected gunmen laid siege to the Owode-Elede axis of Ikorodu road, stopped private and commercial vehicles, disposed people of their valuables and kidnapped many who were then taken away in two speed boats on the waterways.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 5a.m, according to eye-witness accounts, and lasted about 20 minutes.
The victims were mainly passengers, motorists and other road users going about the day’s businesses. Unconfirmed reports put the number of victims at 30 and even more.
But investigation by The Nation revealed that about five reports of victims of the abduction were made to the Police.
The gunmen were said to have arrived through the creeks in two boats shooting into the air to scare people.
They proceeded to barricade both sections of the road and then carefully selected their victims from amongst the occupants of the various private and commercial vehicles they ransacked.
“It was like a scene from the Hollywood films,” an eye witness said.
“Armed to the teeth, these young men ordered all of us to come down one after the other from the buses. They collected all purses and bags and demanded for all phones as we alighted. They pointed guns at us and even fired into the air to show us they meant business.
“There was pandemonium as people scampered for safety. Many people abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road and fled.
“ I saw people falling and getting injured. By the time the dust cleared, the criminals had fled with no fewer than 30 people they carefully selected and forced into their boats at gun point,” the source said.
While nobody died during the incident, many people were injured , caused by the pandemonium that ensued as people tried to avoid being abducted or robbed by the dare devil gang.
Some sources said policemen later arrived after the abductors had gone, while some other eye-witnesses claimed that some the police actually engaged the criminals in a gun duel in a bid to stop them from escaping with their victims.
One source said:”One of the policemen was even injured during the exchange of gunshots. I think the officers were from a nearby station.
“They arrived as the kidnappers were leading their victims to the boats. It was the criminals that first opened fire on the Police team. The security men responded and there was a gun fight for a while before the kidnappers escaped in their boats.”Ransom and negotiations
By 12noon on the fateful day, the kidnappers began contacting families and friends of their victims, demanding a whooping N10million ransom for each of their captive
They allowed the family members or friends as the case may be to speak with their loved ones and warned them sternly to keep the police out of the deal or risk losing their relatives.
The Nation was at the home of one of the affected families in Jumofak area of Ikorodu when the kidnappers called with the phone number 08033….38 and instructed the victim’s father to make haste and bring the N10million to them in exchange for his abducted son. He was allowed to briefly speak with the young man.
The old man could only respond thus:”I cannot raise N10million. I am not a wealthy man. Please release may son and I will give you whatever I can get. He is a young graduate who just got a job.”
But the kidnappers insisted he must make the money available or risk losing his dear son. Distraught, the helpless father kept calling back the line, but it was engaged for sometime.
After a while, the abductors called back. They asked to know if the money was ready.
When told it wasn’t, they brought their demand lower to N5million. Yet, the family begged and pleaded. The kidnappers insisted it was N5m or nothing.
In the midst of the negotiation, the kidnappers demanded that MTN recharge cards be sent to them to continue the negotiation.
The cards were promptly purchased and sent.
Efforts were again made to contact the gang, but the line remained engaged. And when the gang called back, it was to ask if the money was ready and to further warn the family against involving the police. They claimed to have their ears to the ground and as would know of any smart move by the relatives of their victims.
The abducted boy spoke with the family again. This time, he assured his father that he was safe and sound and that he wasn’t the only one abducted. When the father insisted the money wasn’t ready, the discussion ended abruptly. Several efforts to reach them afterwards didn’t yield fruit.
The family wept and prayed. They defied the kidnappers and reported the matter at the Ajegunle Police Station near Ikorodu.
But largely, they waited on the criminals, hoping God would touch their hearts. The aged grandmother of the abducted young man wept the most, wishing that the kidnappers could come for her and release her grandchild. But that was not to be as several calls to the phone failed to yield fruit till our correspondent left the scene.
At the Offin-Igbogbo area of Ikorodu home of another victim, the situation was the same. Using the same line, the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N10million ransom. Recharge cards were also sent across to them and they were allowed to hear the voice of their relative in the abductors’ den.
On the following day, the ransom demanded had dropped to as low as N1million and N2million respectively.
By noon of that day, the distraught family of the young man residing at Jumofak in Ikorodu, were re-united with their loved one after dropping off N1million cash at an agreed location. It was jubilation galore in their home when The Nation visited.
The other family told The Nation that the kidnappers settled for N500,000 to release their man.
Once the money was paid, he was promptly released too. With the two captives regaining their freedom on the strength of the negotiating acumen of their relatives, it became obvious that the kidnappers’ idea of mass abduction is to make both payment and release easy for captives and captors respectively.
While many Lagosians were still thanking God for making them see the new year, news broke on Wednesday, the 4th of January, that suspected gunmen laid siege to the Owode-Elede axis of Ikorodu road, stopped private and commercial vehicles, disposed people of their valuables and kidnapped many who were then taken away in two speed boats on the waterways.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 5a.m, according to eye-witness accounts, and lasted about 20 minutes.
The victims were mainly passengers, motorists and other road users going about the day’s businesses. Unconfirmed reports put the number of victims at 30 and even more.
But investigation by The Nation revealed that about five reports of victims of the abduction were made to the Police.
The gunmen were said to have arrived through the creeks in two boats shooting into the air to scare people.
They proceeded to barricade both sections of the road and then carefully selected their victims from amongst the occupants of the various private and commercial vehicles they ransacked.
“It was like a scene from the Hollywood films,” an eye witness said.
“Armed to the teeth, these young men ordered all of us to come down one after the other from the buses. They collected all purses and bags and demanded for all phones as we alighted. They pointed guns at us and even fired into the air to show us they meant business.
“There was pandemonium as people scampered for safety. Many people abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road and fled.
“ I saw people falling and getting injured. By the time the dust cleared, the criminals had fled with no fewer than 30 people they carefully selected and forced into their boats at gun point,” the source said.
While nobody died during the incident, many people were injured , caused by the pandemonium that ensued as people tried to avoid being abducted or robbed by the dare devil gang.
Some sources said policemen later arrived after the abductors had gone, while some other eye-witnesses claimed that some the police actually engaged the criminals in a gun duel in a bid to stop them from escaping with their victims.
One source said:”One of the policemen was even injured during the exchange of gunshots. I think the officers were from a nearby station.
“They arrived as the kidnappers were leading their victims to the boats. It was the criminals that first opened fire on the Police team. The security men responded and there was a gun fight for a while before the kidnappers escaped in their boats.”Ransom and negotiations
By 12noon on the fateful day, the kidnappers began contacting families and friends of their victims, demanding a whooping N10million ransom for each of their captive
They allowed the family members or friends as the case may be to speak with their loved ones and warned them sternly to keep the police out of the deal or risk losing their relatives.
The Nation was at the home of one of the affected families in Jumofak area of Ikorodu when the kidnappers called with the phone number 08033….38 and instructed the victim’s father to make haste and bring the N10million to them in exchange for his abducted son. He was allowed to briefly speak with the young man.
The old man could only respond thus:”I cannot raise N10million. I am not a wealthy man. Please release may son and I will give you whatever I can get. He is a young graduate who just got a job.”
But the kidnappers insisted he must make the money available or risk losing his dear son. Distraught, the helpless father kept calling back the line, but it was engaged for sometime.
After a while, the abductors called back. They asked to know if the money was ready.
When told it wasn’t, they brought their demand lower to N5million. Yet, the family begged and pleaded. The kidnappers insisted it was N5m or nothing.
In the midst of the negotiation, the kidnappers demanded that MTN recharge cards be sent to them to continue the negotiation.
The cards were promptly purchased and sent.
Efforts were again made to contact the gang, but the line remained engaged. And when the gang called back, it was to ask if the money was ready and to further warn the family against involving the police. They claimed to have their ears to the ground and as would know of any smart move by the relatives of their victims.
The abducted boy spoke with the family again. This time, he assured his father that he was safe and sound and that he wasn’t the only one abducted. When the father insisted the money wasn’t ready, the discussion ended abruptly. Several efforts to reach them afterwards didn’t yield fruit.
The family wept and prayed. They defied the kidnappers and reported the matter at the Ajegunle Police Station near Ikorodu.
But largely, they waited on the criminals, hoping God would touch their hearts. The aged grandmother of the abducted young man wept the most, wishing that the kidnappers could come for her and release her grandchild. But that was not to be as several calls to the phone failed to yield fruit till our correspondent left the scene.
At the Offin-Igbogbo area of Ikorodu home of another victim, the situation was the same. Using the same line, the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N10million ransom. Recharge cards were also sent across to them and they were allowed to hear the voice of their relative in the abductors’ den.
On the following day, the ransom demanded had dropped to as low as N1million and N2million respectively.
By noon of that day, the distraught family of the young man residing at Jumofak in Ikorodu, were re-united with their loved one after dropping off N1million cash at an agreed location. It was jubilation galore in their home when The Nation visited.
The other family told The Nation that the kidnappers settled for N500,000 to release their man.
Once the money was paid, he was promptly released too. With the two captives regaining their freedom on the strength of the negotiating acumen of their relatives, it became obvious that the kidnappers’ idea of mass abduction is to make both payment and release easy for captives and captors respectively.
A recurring evil
The Nation learnt that the January 4th incident was the third within a space of two months.
The first planned mass abduction occurred on December 16 claiming one life.
The kidnappers managed to escape with only a 2 year old girl and a pregnant lady.
The unlucky woman murdered in cold blood by the kidnappers that fateful night turned out to be the pretty 28-year-old presenter of popular comedy show, Stand-Up Nigeria, Aisha Ali-Balogun. The late On Air Personality was in company of her daughter, Fareeda and a pregnant friend when the incident occured. Both were kidnapped in the attack.
According to a version of the story, the assailants actually wanted to kidnap Aisha’s daughter and some other commuters. But the late broadcaster’s frenzied struggle with them, which led to her being killed, forced them to abandon their plan of mass abduction before fleeing from the scene with just Aisha’s daughter and her friend who were already seated in the boat.
“They had asked other persons to come down from their car and lie face down on the road side. They obviously wanted to abduct more people to go away with,” one eye witness said.
“But the late Aisha disturbed them greatly with her spirited effort to save her daughter. She refused to step back as ordered by her killers. She kept asking that her daughter be given back to her.
“It was while she was struggling to save her daughter that she was hit by a bullet. After she was gunned down, the kidnappers abandoned the other victims and fled the scene because the shot attracted a team of policemen to the scene. But for that incident, more persons would have been abducted that night,” the source added.
The abductors later demanded N10 million from the bereaved family.
Family sources said she was released about a week later.
“She was dropped close to the house. She was brought to us by people who identified her. They initially demanded N10 million, but we appealed to them to release her since her mother died in the operation that led to her abduction,” a family source said.
Earlier in September, gunmen had stormed Channels Avenue in Isheri area of Lagos State, and kidnapped three landlords.
The victims of this abduction were Mr. Kenedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu Bello and Mr. Esang, who are all residents of the nearby Oshorun Heritage Estate.
They had gone to a recreation centre beside Lekki Gardens Estate for their usual keep fit exercises.
The closeness of the recreation centre to Warewa and Wawa creeks in Ogun State, aided the kidnap effort and made escape easy for the abductors.
The hooded gunmen clad in military camouflage came through the water ways, shot sporadically into the air and grabbed their victims.
And as people scampered in various directions to escape being killed, the captured landlords were whisked away in the kidnappers’ waiting boats through the creeks, just as they came.
Sources claimed that over 20 expended AK47 ammunition were picked at the scene of the incident and handed over to the police.
Days later, the men were released after ransoms were negotiated. The gunmen who initially demanded N300 million as ransom for each men later reduced the demand to N20 million.
The exact amount paid for the release of the kidnapped was not disclosed ,but sources confirmed that money was paid to get them freed.
The Nation learnt that the January 4th incident was the third within a space of two months.
The first planned mass abduction occurred on December 16 claiming one life.
The kidnappers managed to escape with only a 2 year old girl and a pregnant lady.
The unlucky woman murdered in cold blood by the kidnappers that fateful night turned out to be the pretty 28-year-old presenter of popular comedy show, Stand-Up Nigeria, Aisha Ali-Balogun. The late On Air Personality was in company of her daughter, Fareeda and a pregnant friend when the incident occured. Both were kidnapped in the attack.
According to a version of the story, the assailants actually wanted to kidnap Aisha’s daughter and some other commuters. But the late broadcaster’s frenzied struggle with them, which led to her being killed, forced them to abandon their plan of mass abduction before fleeing from the scene with just Aisha’s daughter and her friend who were already seated in the boat.
“They had asked other persons to come down from their car and lie face down on the road side. They obviously wanted to abduct more people to go away with,” one eye witness said.
“But the late Aisha disturbed them greatly with her spirited effort to save her daughter. She refused to step back as ordered by her killers. She kept asking that her daughter be given back to her.
“It was while she was struggling to save her daughter that she was hit by a bullet. After she was gunned down, the kidnappers abandoned the other victims and fled the scene because the shot attracted a team of policemen to the scene. But for that incident, more persons would have been abducted that night,” the source added.
The abductors later demanded N10 million from the bereaved family.
Family sources said she was released about a week later.
“She was dropped close to the house. She was brought to us by people who identified her. They initially demanded N10 million, but we appealed to them to release her since her mother died in the operation that led to her abduction,” a family source said.
Earlier in September, gunmen had stormed Channels Avenue in Isheri area of Lagos State, and kidnapped three landlords.
The victims of this abduction were Mr. Kenedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu Bello and Mr. Esang, who are all residents of the nearby Oshorun Heritage Estate.
They had gone to a recreation centre beside Lekki Gardens Estate for their usual keep fit exercises.
The closeness of the recreation centre to Warewa and Wawa creeks in Ogun State, aided the kidnap effort and made escape easy for the abductors.
The hooded gunmen clad in military camouflage came through the water ways, shot sporadically into the air and grabbed their victims.
And as people scampered in various directions to escape being killed, the captured landlords were whisked away in the kidnappers’ waiting boats through the creeks, just as they came.
Sources claimed that over 20 expended AK47 ammunition were picked at the scene of the incident and handed over to the police.
Days later, the men were released after ransoms were negotiated. The gunmen who initially demanded N300 million as ransom for each men later reduced the demand to N20 million.
The exact amount paid for the release of the kidnapped was not disclosed ,but sources confirmed that money was paid to get them freed.
Mounting concerns
Residents, especially of Ikorodu, are now worried by the new development.
Calls for security to be strengthened in the affected areas are also on the rise and the police authorities say they are not unaware of the need to improve security in the metropolis consequent upon the cases of mass kidnaps.
Police Commissioner Owoseni, however insisted that the populace have a lot to do in helping the force to do its work better. He lamented a situation whereby kidnap incidents are not reported to the police by relatives of abducted victims. He argued that it will be difficult for the force to help without information.
Speaking to The Nation on phone, Owoseni urged the people to be resolute against crime and trust the police with information. He also vowed that the command is ready and able to rid Lagos of the menace of kidnappers, irrespective of any new trick the criminals may decide to adopt as a way of escaping arrest.
Speaking on the incident, Honourable S.O.B Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the member representing Ikorodu constituency 1, said it is worrisome that criminals, rather than change their ways, are becoming innovative.
He however assured the people of the ability of the current administration in the state to effectively secure life and property of the people of the State.
“I am worried, like every other constituents of this area about this development,” he said.
“ We call on security operatives to also up their games and counter the negative innovation of this criminals who are determined to make life unbearable for us in the state. I sympathize with the affected families and urge our gallant Police officers to be up and doing as they confront the criminals amongst us.
“However, I want to assure the people of the ability of the current administration in the state to effectively secure lives and properties of the people of Lagos State. The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration is doing everything possible to rid the state of crime. It is based on this that I am optimistic that this new trouble will pass us by,” he said
Residents, especially of Ikorodu, are now worried by the new development.
Calls for security to be strengthened in the affected areas are also on the rise and the police authorities say they are not unaware of the need to improve security in the metropolis consequent upon the cases of mass kidnaps.
Police Commissioner Owoseni, however insisted that the populace have a lot to do in helping the force to do its work better. He lamented a situation whereby kidnap incidents are not reported to the police by relatives of abducted victims. He argued that it will be difficult for the force to help without information.
Speaking to The Nation on phone, Owoseni urged the people to be resolute against crime and trust the police with information. He also vowed that the command is ready and able to rid Lagos of the menace of kidnappers, irrespective of any new trick the criminals may decide to adopt as a way of escaping arrest.
Speaking on the incident, Honourable S.O.B Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the member representing Ikorodu constituency 1, said it is worrisome that criminals, rather than change their ways, are becoming innovative.
He however assured the people of the ability of the current administration in the state to effectively secure life and property of the people of the State.
“I am worried, like every other constituents of this area about this development,” he said.
“ We call on security operatives to also up their games and counter the negative innovation of this criminals who are determined to make life unbearable for us in the state. I sympathize with the affected families and urge our gallant Police officers to be up and doing as they confront the criminals amongst us.
“However, I want to assure the people of the ability of the current administration in the state to effectively secure lives and properties of the people of Lagos State. The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration is doing everything possible to rid the state of crime. It is based on this that I am optimistic that this new trouble will pass us by,” he said
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