Mother, Sons, Arrested For Kidnapping And Cyber Crime

LUCKY LAWAL

The Lagos State Police Command on September 7, 2018, busted a kidnappers’ den located at No.15, Irepodun Street, Egan, Igando area of Lagos, operated by a mother, 60-year old Aminat Karimu Ajibola and her two sons, Akeem Bashiru, 32, and Ojo Solomon, 26.  

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the family was a deadly bunch of kidnappers who thrived on using the social media to lure their victims and put them in captivity until a ransom is paid.

The trio met their waterloo when one Ms. Bridget Obazee, approached the Divisional Police Officer in charge Igando Police station, CSP Taiwo Kasumu at about 0400hrs on 7^th September, 2018, and complained that her brother, one Osahon Obazee, has been missing for days and that the kidnappers were threatening to kill him unless they paid one million, five hundred thousand Naira ( N1, 500,000.00) ransom. She added that they warned her not to involve the police or else her brother will be killed. 

The DPO quickly contacted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, who reinforced his team with men drafted from the Intelligence Unit of the Command and together they left in search of the victim.

Same day, at about 1100hrs, through discreet investigation the following suspects were arrested at the aforementioned address namely, Aminat Kareem Ajibola, a Chief Priestess and custodian of an Ifa shrine, her two sons, Akeem Bashiru and Ojo Solomon.

Also rescued during the operation were two other victims found in the apartment, namely, Fadugbagbe Akindele, male, of No.7 Peace Crescent Salolo, Meiran, Lagos and one Ekwegbalu Augustine who was lured all the way from Anambra State with the promise of a job placement  in an oil company. They had been held for weeks by the kidnappers pending payment of ransom by their families. All those rescued had been identified and reunited with their relations.

During interrogation, the youngest member of the family of kidnappers, Ojo Solomon, confessed that he was able to lure victims with the  promise of getting them employment and to some for a gay relationship. While his mother empowered him and his brother spiritually, she used the charms to intimidate and instill fear into their victims.

The Lagos CP hoped that by this feat and several others in the past, criminals ought to have seen how futile it was to carry out their trade in any part of the state no matter how far flung the area may be. He therefore warned that criminal elements in the state should either repent or be busted as Lagos is no hibernation ground for criminals. He thanked the good people of Lagos State for their cooperation by way of giving the police credible and timely information.