5 Members Of Kidnapping Gang Busted In Lagos After Collecting N56m Ransom From Victims

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the five suspects, Isaiah Ajiri, 28, Onyeka Dikadi, 43, Cletus Samuel, 23, Lasila Ewere, 19, and Ifeanyi Adaeze, 44 were arrested following a coordinated operation of the Police Tactical team of the State Command.

The suspects are now facing charges for kidnapping, armed robbery, and conspiracy following their operation between 1st August and 29th September, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to the Police, the suspects and others now at large had kidnapped two victims, Chukwuma Joy and Okuleye Ikechukwu and collected ransom of N36m and N20 million respectively.

They were said to have also carried out armed robbery operation with a Lexus 350 SUV and a Mercedes Benz GL43 before they were eventually tracked and arrested by the Police led by SP Banti Adamu.

Having been found culpable after thorough interrogation, they were charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

“That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’, Lasila Ewere feanyi Adaeze ‘m’ and others at large, on the 1st day of August, 2025 and 29/9/2025 at Berger along Lagos-Ibadan expressway area of Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2017.”

COUNT II:”That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’, ta Ewere ‘m’, Ifeanyi Adaeze ‘m’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did forcefully take, held, abducted, instilled fear for the purpose of kidnapping through coercion kidnapped one Chukwuma Joy ‘f’ demanded and collected ransom of irty-six million Naira (N36,000,000.00) from the family of the victim one Chukwuma Joy ‘f before she gained her freedom on 14/8/2025 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 2(i) (ii) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2017.”

COUNT III:”That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’,Asila Ewere ‘m’, Ifeanyi Adaeze ‘m’ and others at large on the 29th day of September, 2025 at the aforesaid time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did forcefully take, held, abducted, instilled fear for the purpose of kidnapping through coercion with intent, kidnapped one Okuleye Ikechukwu ‘m’ demanded and collected ransom of Twenty million Naira (N20,000,000.00) from the family of the victim one Okuleye Ikechukwu before he gained his freedom on the 30/9/2025 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 2(I) (II) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015″

COUNT IV: “That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’, Lasila Ewere ‘m’, Ifeanyi Adaeze ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

COUNT V:”That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’ , and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, whilst armed yourselves Ewere ‘m’, Ifeanvi Adaeze ‘m’ and others at large, on the same date, cutlass, pump action gun did rob one Lexus 350 jeep red colour with reg. K116 ACE Samsung Galaxy 22 ultra-phone property of one Chukwuma P and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Section 297(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State,”

COUNT VI;”That you, Isaiah Ajiri ‘m’, Onyeka Dikadi ‘m’, Cletus Samuel ‘m’, Ewere ‘m’, Ifeanyi Adaeze ‘m’ and others at large, on the same date, and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, whilst armed yourselves with cutlass, pump action gun did rob one Mercedes Benz GL43 black colour reg. No. BWR 386 ES property of one Okuleye Ikechukwu ‘m’ and by committed an offence contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Section 297(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

However, the Court did not take their plea following a motion moved by the Prosecutor,  Supol Philip Ademigbuji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.

The Court then ordered their remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.

The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.