Police kill 7 suspected abductors of Lagos council boss, nab 2 BY EVELYN USMAN LAGOS — The Lagos State Police Command has smashed a kidnap syndicate comprising nine Nigerians based in Ghana. They are said to have been responsible for the kidnap of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area boss, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, two months ago and a Federal High Court Judge. In the process, seven suspected members of the syndicate were killed during a gun battle, yesterday. Two suspected members of the gang were also arrested at their hideout in Agbara area of Ogun State, while an Indian national identified as Vivex Changrani, said to have been kidnapped Sunday, was rescued. Recovered at the end of the gun battle said to have lasted 30 minutes, were four AK 47 riffles, two of which had police identification mark, 28 AK 47 magazines fully loaded, more than 1,000 rounds of AK- 47 live ammunition, army uniforms and two vehicles — a Honda CRV SUV with number plate ABC 106 AE and a Nissan Pathfinder SUV with number plate AGL 730 AZ. How the syndicate was smashed Briefing newsmen on how the syndicate met its waterloo, the command’s boss, Mr Umar Manko, said: “Remember when the LCDA chairman was kidnapped, I promised Lagosians we were going to arrest the kidnappers. “We got information that these kidnappers were based in Ghana and all efforts to arrest them in Ghana failed because that country had her procedure and they insisted we could not just go there to make any arrest. “We went to Ghana with a team of International Policemen, INTERPOL, but after 31 days without a headway, our policemen returned to Nigeria. “Based on painstaking follow-up and surveillance in tracking these kidnappers, men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad discovered their hideout in Agbara two weeks ago. “The Commander SARS, Mr Abba Kyari, led a team of crack detectives to a suburb in Agbara where the kidnappers had their camp. “After 72 hours of waiting in ambush, the men cordoned off, then stormed the house where all the kidnappers gathered by 3 am, yesterday.” Modus oparandi The kidnappers’ modus operandi, as gathered, included dressing in full military uniform, pretending to be military personnel. They would thereafter, kidnap their victims, pretending to be taking them to a military base , only to take them to their hideout, from where they would start negotiating for ransom. In some cases where they usually experience gridlock, some of them would reportedly jump down from their operational vehicle to clear the way, pretending to be conveying a military officer. After each successful kidnap, they would reportedly share their loot before leaving for Ghana. Preliminary investigation, according to Police sources, revealed that the kidnappers usually give their loot to a Bureau de-change operator after each successful deal who thereafter takes it to them in Ghana. $100,000 paid as ransom for Bamigbetan’s release It was gathered that a total of $100,000 was collected by the gang as ransom for the release of the Ejigbo LCDA boss. Leader of the syndicate whose identity was given as Jonah Benjamin Osinachi, was said to have collected $50,000 while the other members shared $50,000. One of the suspects who gave his name as Uchenna Nwanyu (25), admitted working for leader of the syndicate. According to him, “Jonah whom we usually called China (pointing to his boss’ corpse) sent for me from Ghana. I came with his wife and children and lodged in a hotel. I went to his place (Agbara) on Sunday because he said he was expecting his goods. I was there when they were about going for an operation. They all tied charms on their wastes, danced round a liquid substance which they later poured on their heads before leaving the house, wearing their army uniforms with guns. They later came back with a white man whom they pushed inside a room and ordered me to stay with him. They, thereafter, said they would call the man’s relatives the next day (yesterday) for ransom. The rescue operation “I was in the room with the man when I heard gunshots. I even helped the man by telling him to lie on the floor so as not to be hit by stray bullets. I later heard footsteps as they all tried to escape. When the gunshots died down, I went out, only to see the policemen. I was even the one that showed them where the kidnapped man was. “I knew my boss was a kidnapper but I could not do anything about that because he was the source of my livelihood. I also worked for him in Ghana. I am in charge of his building which is under construction in Ghana and his restaurant.” The second suspect, Ogbonna Emenike, who disclosed that he was only released from prison last Monday over a case of robbery, said he was lured into the gang because of hunger. Although he denied taking part in the abduction, Uchenna said he was one of those who came in with the kidnapped Indian in the early hours of Monday. Police kill Bamigbetan’s kidnappers, arrest two by Eniola Akinkuotu The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested members of a kidnapping syndicate suspected to have kidnapped the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan. According to the police, the suspects were arrested shortly after kidnapping an Indian, Vivex Changrani, in the early hours of Monday. The Commissioner of Police for the command, Umar Manko, said the suspects were not based in Lagos but only operated in the state on weekends after which they would flee to Ghana. He said apart from Bamigbetan, the suspects had been involved in a series of high-profile kidnapping including that of a Federal High Court judge in Lagos. He said, “Based on painstaking investigation and tracking of Nigerian kidnappers who kidnapped Ejigbo LCDA Chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, a sitting Federal High Court Judge and other notable individuals in Lagos, a team of detectives, led by the Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, traced the kidnappers to the Agbara area of Ogun State where the kidnappers have their camp. “After 72 hours of laying ambush, the policemen stormed the house where the kidnappers were gathered. A gun duel ensued and seven kidnappers were killed. Two of the kdinappers, Ogbonna Emenike and Uchenna Nwanyu, were arrested alive with bullet wounds while four AK47 rifles, 28 AK47 magazines and over 1,000 rounds of AK47 live ammunition were recovered. “A Honda CRV and a Nissan Pathfinder as well as charms were recovered from them. An Indian national, Vivex Changrani, who was kidnapped at Ikoyi two hours before the operation, was also rescued by the police.” Manko said the suspects were able to evade arrest for so long because they were in Ghana and due to international law, Nigeria policemen had to collaborate with INTERPOL to track the suspects. The police boss said the suspects operated in army uniforms which deceived members of the public. “We discovered that because the suspects operated in army uniform, they easily got away. Sometimes, they could even alight from their vehicles in broad daylight and direct traffic in order to escape,” he said. According to police detectives, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, the suspects lived flamboyant lifestyles in Ghana. A police source, said the leader of the gang, Jonah Benjamin Osinachi aka China, who was killed during a gun duel with the police, owned a big restaurant in Ghana and other investments which he funded with proceeds from his illegitimate business. He said, “The suspects only struck during weekends after which they would go back to Ghana. For instance, after kidnapping Bamigbetan, they received $50,000 (N8m) as ransom. They went back to Ghana without any money. “Rather, what they did was to give the money to a bureau de change operator who then helped them to transfer the money through an agent to Ghana.” The suspects however said they were not members of the gang but only friends to the killed suspects. Nwanyu said, “I am not a kidnapper, China employed me to manage his restaurant in Ghana and I have been doing that for two years now. I came with China, his wife and two kids on Sunday because they said they wanted to renew their passports at FESTAC.” Another suspect, Emenike, said he was not part of the gang. He said he was only released from prison last Monday and was only at the wrong place at the wrong time. The Indian victim, Changrani, however identified the suspects as his captors. He commended the police for rescuing him less than five hours after his abduction. He said, “I have been living in Nigeria for seven years and I work for a plastic-manufacturing company. On Sunday night, around 12am, I was on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, when men in army uniform flagged down my vehicle. They jumped into my car and pushed me into the back seat. “An hour later, they pushed me into their own vehicle, blindfolded me. After some hours, they took me into their house and locked me in a room and told me to sleep. Around 5am, I started hearing gunshots and when the police identified themselves, I screamed for help and they rescued me. The police did a fantastic job.” 4 convicts hanged in Benin JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin Four convicts who had been on the death row were Monday executed by hanging in Benin City, capital of Edo State, south-south Nigeria. The execution which took place in the premises of the Benin City Central Prisons, has however elicited condemnation from Amnesty International. Illustration: Courtesy of Amnesty International In a statement, the international human rights group, called on Nigerian government for restraint in carrying out the execution which it said was confirmed by a court yesterday in Benin City. Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Henry Idahagbon, who confirmed the executions, said the convictions were got many years ago as far as the Supreme Court. Idahagbon who could not confirm names of the executed criminals, said three of them were convicted outside the state, but have been in prison in Benin City, adding that the execution of the convictions was on the prison authorities who requested for the go ahead. “I didn’t memories the names, but they are in the document forwarded to me in the office. If you come to me tomorrow, I can get them for you,” Idahagbon said. There are eight condemned prisoners in Benin Prisons. One of them is Edo state born Agbonmware Omorogie, who was convicted since 1994 and who exhausted his right of appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Another death row convict is Cyracius Ogidi from Imo State, convicted for armed robbery by military tribunal since 1997 There is also ThanKGod Ebhos, from Kaduna State convicted for armed robbery by military tribunal since 1988. Chima Ejifor convicted since August 1998 at the age of 27 has also exhausted his appeal at the Supreme Court. Others are: Richard Igago, arrested in 1994 and convicted on 19-12-1995 by an Edo State High Court, Osarenmwinda Aiguokhian-arrested on 7-7-1993 and convicted for armed robbery by military tribunal on 18-1-1996, Daniel Nsofor-arrested in Edo State on 31-11-1992 and convicted on 19-6-1996 and Apostle Igene, from Delta State-arrested on 9-5-1997 and convicted for armed robbery by military tribunal in 1998 at the age of 28 with no right of appeal. P.M.NEWS could not confirm from the attorney-general who out of the eight men were hanged Monday. On claims that there was a stay of execution order, Idahagbon said his office got the stay of execution papers but that the execution was not to be carried out by his office. Sources within the prison however confirmed that the fifth condemned criminals will be executed before Friday this week by firing squad.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:26:10 +0000
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