Matilda Omonaiye/
The Police in Lagos have rescued three persons held by an alleged kidnap gang that lures its victims via social media with fake job offers or promise of gay relationship.
Police authorities told NewsmakersNG that the gang was led by a female herbalist, Aminat Karimu Ajibola, 60, and assisted by her two sons, Akeem Bashiru, and Ojo Solomon, 26.
NewsmakersNG gathered that the alleged gang leader had her two sons from different fathers.
According to the police, the suspects also hypnotised their victims with charms before abducting them.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the three victims were rescued from the gang’s hideout in Igando area of Lagos on Friday by a combined team of operatives from the state command in Ikeja and the Igando divisional headquarters.
NewsmakersNG also learnt that a female relation of one the victims, Bridget Obazee, reported the matter to the police after she was contacted for ransom.
The rescued victims were identified by the police as Osahon Obazee, Fadugbagbe Akindele and Ekwegbalu Augustine, who was lured with the promise of a job in an oil company from Anambra State.
A statement by the command’s spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, says more on the incident:
It reads: “The Lagos State Police Command, on September 7, 2018, busted a kidnappers’ den located at No.15, Irepodun street, Egan, Igando, Lagos, operated by a mother, Aminat Karimu Ajibola, age 60 years and her two sons, Akeem Bashiru, 32 years and Ojo Solomon, 26 years.
“The family is a deadly bunch of kidnappers who thrives by using the social media to lure out 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 of 07/09/2018 and complained to him that her brother, one Osahon Obazee, has been missing for days and that the kidnappers were threatening to kill him unless they pay a one million, five hundred thousand Naira (N1, 500,000.00) ransom. She added that they warned her not to involve the police else her brother will be killed.
“The DPO quickly contacted the 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 out the victims with the promise of getting them an employment and to some, a gay relationship. While his mother empowers him and his brother spiritually, she uses the charms (Juju) to intimidate and instill fear in their victims.”
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