Ladipo Sanusi/
Police have told an Ebute-Metta Chief Magustrate’s Court how school uniforms and notebooks of female victims were found at the kidnappers’ hideout uncovered in Ikeja, last week.
Twelve suspected kidnappers were arrested at the hideout located inside a manhole at Ile Zik bus stop, along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, on Thursday. They were rescued from a mob by the police.
Police told the court, when the suspects were arraigned today, that the recovered items belonged to victims that managed to escape from the kidnappers’ custody.
Police said the recovered uniforms belonged to students of Girls Junior High School, Agege,
The suspects were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of ammunition and attempted kidnap.
The 12 accused persons are: Hakeem Ogundele, 32; Noah Samuel, 25; Ayomide Olatunji, 44; Felix Matthew, 50; Americ Obodoyibo, 34 and Adijat Mudashiru, 42.
The rest are: Shola Elemo, 33; Akanji Tunde, 41; Adekeye Adeoye, 39; Patrick Onwubufor, 65; Samuel Iyede, 50 and Bright Amankwa, 36.
Police alleged that the accused persons “had on August 10, 2017, at Ajayi Farm, Ile-zik, Ikeja, Lagos, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit attempted kidnapping and had in their possession live ammunition and shell of expanded ammunition”.
Police claimed to have also found in their possession kitchen knifes and road maps.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Sergeant Kehinde Omishakin, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 330(d) and 21(a)(B) Cap. CH. C7, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The presiding Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias ordered the suspects to be remanded in prison’s custody, pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution. He thereafter adjourned the matter till August 22.
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