Police Uncover House-To-House Kidnapping Syndicate
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Kidnapping, which has almost become a type of business, may have taken another dimension in Lagos following the abduction of a businessman in his house by a criminal syndicate, which move from house to house to abduct victims and obtains ransom before such persons will regain freedom.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the businessman, Godwin Osakwe, was said to have been captured and detained until he pay N1m ransom before he was released.
The incident happened at Plot C Holy Trinity Estate, Apaje Road, Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos, where the victim, Godwin Osakwe resides with his family.
According to Police sources, the bandits targeted Osakwe when he was at home, captured and detained him for several hours threatening to kill him if he did not cooperate with them.
The victim had no option than to cooperate and he provided the money before he was released.
The ugly incident was reported to the Police, who moved into action and arrested one of the suspects while other were said to be at large.
The suspect, Afeez Odunuga, was said to have conspired with others now at large at about 9.30hours, captured and detained the victim before they collected ransom to release him.
After thorough interrogation and being found culpable, he was subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court.
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Kehinde Ajayi, asked the Court to give a short date for adjournment for the matter to go on trial in order for the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Ajibade, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum and ordered remanded him at Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till 17th March, 2021, for mention.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the syndicate had been operating for a while; going from one house to the other to abduct and obtain ransom from victims in the area before the last incident, which eventually exposed them.
