Gunmen Abduct Igbo Millionaires In Lagos For Ransome
By Lanre Olaleye
Kidnappers may have found a new veritable haven in Lagos to perpetrate their dastardly act.
In what seems to be a target attack on influential Igbo wealthy men in Lagos, the kidnappers are raking in millions of Naira on a daily basis from Igbo residents in Lagos especially the rich and wealthy among them.
The Snoop gathered that in the past few weeks, kidnappers have been having field day across the state while raking in huge sums of money as ransome.
They were said to be making so much money in local and foreign currencies paid as ransome by helpless victims in the ever-busy business districts and residential areas in the state.
The gun-totting men of the underworld have exclusively targeted wealthy businessmen who will rather pay ransome than be killed.
Some of their top victims include business mogul and owner of Globus Supermarket Limited, Ozoemena Dan Uchenna.
With branches spread all over Lagos, the Enugu-born chain supermarket owner ranks among the super rich Igbo in Lagos. He was allegedly abducted at Okota area and kept in captivity while the abductors demanded N100m ransome before he could be released. They threatened to kill him if the family refused to pay the ransome.
While the negotiations on his release were still ongoing, the kidnapping syndicate allegedly struck again at Bucknor Estate in Ejigbo. They kidnapped the owner of Solid Rang Hotel, located at Grandmate Bus Stop in Ijegun. He was made to pay about N80m as ransom before his release last week.
Police sources said the owner of the four-star hotel was abducted as he was entering his house at Ali Dada area in Ago. They reportedly laid siege to his gate as he was entering his house. They reportedly flashed the headlight of their RS 350 Lexus car before apprehending him by the gate..
Again, the owner of an eatery identified as Nobis, an Igbo was also last week abducted and kept in an undisclosed location for several days before his family rallied around to raise N10m, which they paid to the kidnappers before he was released.
At Governor’s Road in Ikotun, the kidnappers shot sporadically for almost 30 minutes without the intervention of any security operatives despite the proximity of a police station at the end of the long stretch road. Many scampered for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
In the ensuing confusion, a businessman identified as Chimex and three others were kidnapped and kept in captivity until each of them paid N4m ransome before they were eventually released.
The same story has played out in Igando, Idimu, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, and Agege areas of Lagos, where victims have been helplessly kidnapped and forced to pay huge ransome before they were released.
Speaking on the selective target of the wealthy Igbo businessmen, a source who craved anonimity said kidnapping has become less lucrative in the East as most wealthy men would rather fly to their destinations than drive on roads for fear of being abducted.
Speaking further, he said: "They are quite aware of the risk associated with Lagos but they rely on intelligence gathering; they mount surveillance on their targets; the level of security around the target as well as their escape plan. This is why the police have not been able to track them because they literally disappear without any trace after each operation."
The kidnappers have practically been having a field day despite hightec crime fighting tools at the disposal of RRS strategic teams stationed across the state. "They are not catch-in-the-air armed robbers but kidnappers who abduct their victims and keep them in safe custody and would only release them after ransome had been paid.
"The police have not been able to track them because they normally warn families of their victims against reporting to the police or they might be forced to kill the victims. Hence, the family don't usually give useful information on the kidnappers to the police," our source informed.
He explained that the Commissioner of Police has also summoned all the tactical teams and given them marching orders to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book without delay.
But it appears to be a tall order that has bear no fruits yet as the kidnappers struck again at Lanre Bus Stop last Thursday evening as they kidnapped yet another victim before escaping.
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