A heavily pregnant woman in Lagos was coerced by kidnappers to personally deliver ransom money, highlighting the alarming tactics used by criminals and the growing insecurity in the region

Several arrests have been made by detectives in Lagos who are relentlessly combating the activities of kidnappers, thus striking fear into their hearts and preventing them from carrying out deadly acts.

A significant triumph was achieved in Ajah, a Lagosian district following the recent elimination of nine infamous wealthy abductors within the metropolis.

Several months ago, a group of abductors seized an oil tycoon on Ado Road in Ajah and fled to the Ondo State creeks via waterways. The triumph occurred after this event.

While at his dredging site, the oil tycoon was ambushed by a gang of six armed men who forcibly abducted him onto a flying boat and transported him through an unfamiliar waterway to an undisclosed location.

The kidnappers, who were heavily armed, fired random shots into the sky with an intention to frighten anyone that came near.

The hostage attempted to escape by leaping from the moving boat and into the river; however, their pursuers followed suit and also submerged themselves in pursuit.

Upon apprehending him, they hastily transported him to their fortress located in the creek at Ikorodu region of Lagos. The abductors conveyed him from the seaplane into a wooden canoe for navigation through the waterway and only permitted communication with his relatives on day three where he was coerced to pay N200 million as ransom.

The family raised N42 million and exchanged it for 30,000 USD as the kidnappers had instructed them. They also received an extra N100,000 cash which they prepared along with the dollars for their journey to an undisclosed location.

The kidnappers were insistent on speaking with the victim’s wife when the victim’s older brother offered to deliver the ransom.

Surprisingly, the perpetrators demanded that the victim’s wife must hand-deliver the ransom when she spoke with them.

Despite the distressed woman’s passionate appeals that she was about to give birth, they responded with threats. They insisted that unless she paid the ransom, her husband would be killed.

At this point, her love for her husband prevailed and she vowed to execute their instructions.

The following day, she departed with a driver from their residence in Ajah. They were instructed over the phone to head towards Ore which was approximately 167 kilometers away from Lagos. Throughout the journey, her abductors continuously monitored and issued instructions on when to halt or proceed further. Eventually reaching Ore, they ordered them to turn back and stop at Sagamu instead. Following these commands led them there where another call directed them once again back home to Ajah eventually upon completion of this circuitous route plan devised by her kidnappers.”

Throughout the ordeal, the abductors issued a dire warning that any effort to involve law enforcement would result in harm coming to both their captive – a woman and her driver. They emphasized that they were attentively observing every move made by them.

Their call from Ajah was repeated, instructing them to return to Sagamu. The total distance covered exceeded 334 kilometres.

Finally, the ordeal began at approximately 6 am when the pregnant woman started groaning in agony and concluded near Odogbolu in Ogun State where they were instructed to pause their journey and traverse a forest route for roughly twenty minutes before relinquishing the ransom.

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It was approximately 6 pm when three stern-looking and heavily armed young men shouted at them to race back to the road without looking back.

Fortunately, upon returning to their Ajah base, they discovered that the provider for their family had already arrived at home. Eventually regaining his freedom in a different area by the riverside of Epe, he was able to make his way back home.

He reported that he was robbed of a gold neck chain worth N25 million, a gold hand bracelet valued at N11.8 million, and two gold rings with an estimated value of N3.4 million by his kidnappers. Once they received the ransom payment, his captors phoned their accomplices to set him free.

According to the police, once the kidnapping occurred, acquaintances of the victim notified authorities; however, they neglected to involve detectives in their endeavors to provide ransom.

As a result of this, Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade instructed his technical team under the leadership of CSP Kehinde Oni to take immediate action and apprehend those responsible for committing the offense.

According to police sources, they monitored both the family and other criminals in the vicinity. However, their target was narrowly missed when they were en route to deliver ransom money. As a result, authorities relied on scientific methods along with technical and human intelligence gathering techniques.

After dividing their plunder, Adelaja Ikuesan (37), Tosin Oke (40) and Oluwabunmi Yusuf (39), three of the abductors, were taken into custody in their lair.

Sunday Vanguard was given a narration of how the operation was conducted by the suspects, who expressed regret that they would not partake in any illicit activities if granted freedom. Ikuesan, identified as an expert speedboat pilot, informed our journalist saying: “I hail from Pare town located within Igbokoda LGA of Ondo State. My possession includes two flying boats named Trips on Marine; both comprising engines with 40HP power.”

During the bunkering activities wherein we stole petroleum products from vandalized pipelines within creeks, I became acquainted with other potential culprits. Our meeting to finalize plans for carrying out the kidnapping took place three weeks prior in a hotel located at Ajegunle.

Old Soldier, whose real name is Tosin Oke, brought the engine for the flying boat. On the day of our mission, two members equipped themselves with AK47s and after taking control of our target we stripped him of his gold chains and other valuable possessions before moving to a secure location in the creeks.

After reaching the creeks, I departed from them and entrusted Old Soldier with their care before returning to Apapa. We derived benefits from both the sale of the gold chains as well as the subsequent ransom payment.

According to the police, Oke (also known as Old Soldier) has a history of illegal oil theft and abductions. Furthermore, he constructed a luxurious home in Badary district of Lagos. When questioned, the accused confessed that he used his ransom money to resolve familial issues but denied building the mansion by himself using illicit earnings alone; instead stating co-construction with select relatives was involved.

Oke expressed his sincere regret for becoming involved in this.

My family members were surprised by my involvement in this situation, as I am not one to engage in any type of wrongdoing. It was questioned why someone who had previously been a police agent for Zone 2 would participate in such questionable activities.

“I am unsure. It could have been the influence of my colleague Juju Adelaja that persuaded me, but I truly cannot say for certain. Only God knows why because it wasn’t as if I lacked funds to provide for myself or manage other expenses prior to joining them in this venture.”

I simply cannot comprehend how the situation unfolded.

“I’m confused,” Adelaja responded. When the third suspect approached him and Old Soldier, according to Adelaja, they took a hand chain from their victim that Old Soldier then sold off.

He transferred a total of N400,000 to me in two instalments; firstly N150,000 and later N250,000 after selling it. Old Soldier was the one who provided the money for change through a POS transfer. The operation yielded a sum of N2.3 million altogether for me.

Adelaja, the second suspect, admitted to using his portion of the ransom money for a new boat. Both suspects claimed to be married; Old Soldier revealed that he has nine children from multiple partners but is currently wedded to one person while Adelaja stated having only one wife and daughter.