7-year-old helps police smash kidnap syndicate
Published: 2013 October 10 07:05:05 (4705 Views)
A university graduate and two other suspects were on Wednesday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, following their arrest after a tip off from a seven-year-old victim.
The men include graduate of Economics of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Gbenga Sholaja; Olalekan Benjamin and Samson Shomorin, specialise in kidnapping little boys.
The victim was said to have been held hostage at Benjamin's father's house at Ikotun, Lagos.
The child, who was later released after a ransom was paid by his parents, was said to have memorised the house address where he was kept.
It was the child who led police officers to the same house where Benjamin was arrested.
Sholaja, who wept profusely during his interview, told PUNCH Metro that he was pushed by unemployment into kidnapping.
He said, "I have a Second Class Upper (Division) in Accounting and have completed my National Youth Service Corps programme.
"I went into kidnapping because since I finished my NYSC in 2011, I have been unable to get a job."
An ex-convict, who was remanded in prison for kidnapping three years ago, Benjamin, said he met Sholaja at OOU while he was trying to gain admission into the school.
The 30-year-old claimed that Sholaja invited him to take part in another kidnapping; he said Sholaja had read about Benjamin's arrest in the newspapers.
Benjamin said, "We would kidnap one boy and we would keep the boy in his (Sholaja') mother's house at Owode Ijako.
"After a week, the boy's parents paid the money. We were given N100,000 (US$620) and my share was just N40,000."
Describing their modus operandi, Benajmin said they usually kidnapped children while on their way to or from school. All suspects were said to have collected a total of N260,000 on two separate occasions, to secure the release of two boys.
Benjamin told PUNCH Metro that he befriended potential victims by buying them biscuits on their way to school, thereby earning their trust.
He said, "It was the last kidnap that got us into trouble. I drove away not knowing that the boy memorised my father's house address, where he was kept.
"After he was released, he led policemen to the house and I was arrested along with my dad but my dad was later released on bail."
Shomorin, on his part, confessed to kidnapping three boys. He urged the government to pardon them, promising not to go back to crime.
Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, said the suspects were arrested on September 29, 2013.
Ozoani said, "They confessed to have kidnapped three children -one from Omole Phase 1; one Kola at Alagbado area and the last one in Owode Ijako, Ogun State, and various amounts of money were collected as ransom."
- 247NNU
The men include graduate of Economics of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Gbenga Sholaja; Olalekan Benjamin and Samson Shomorin, specialise in kidnapping little boys.
The victim was said to have been held hostage at Benjamin's father's house at Ikotun, Lagos.
The child, who was later released after a ransom was paid by his parents, was said to have memorised the house address where he was kept.
It was the child who led police officers to the same house where Benjamin was arrested.
Sholaja, who wept profusely during his interview, told PUNCH Metro that he was pushed by unemployment into kidnapping.
He said, "I have a Second Class Upper (Division) in Accounting and have completed my National Youth Service Corps programme.
"I went into kidnapping because since I finished my NYSC in 2011, I have been unable to get a job."
An ex-convict, who was remanded in prison for kidnapping three years ago, Benjamin, said he met Sholaja at OOU while he was trying to gain admission into the school.
The 30-year-old claimed that Sholaja invited him to take part in another kidnapping; he said Sholaja had read about Benjamin's arrest in the newspapers.
Benjamin said, "We would kidnap one boy and we would keep the boy in his (Sholaja') mother's house at Owode Ijako.
"After a week, the boy's parents paid the money. We were given N100,000 (US$620) and my share was just N40,000."
Describing their modus operandi, Benajmin said they usually kidnapped children while on their way to or from school. All suspects were said to have collected a total of N260,000 on two separate occasions, to secure the release of two boys.
Benjamin told PUNCH Metro that he befriended potential victims by buying them biscuits on their way to school, thereby earning their trust.
He said, "It was the last kidnap that got us into trouble. I drove away not knowing that the boy memorised my father's house address, where he was kept.
"After he was released, he led policemen to the house and I was arrested along with my dad but my dad was later released on bail."
Shomorin, on his part, confessed to kidnapping three boys. He urged the government to pardon them, promising not to go back to crime.
Lagos Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, said the suspects were arrested on September 29, 2013.
Ozoani said, "They confessed to have kidnapped three children -one from Omole Phase 1; one Kola at Alagbado area and the last one in Owode Ijako, Ogun State, and various amounts of money were collected as ransom."
- 247NNU
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