How ‘kidnappers’ waiting to collect N150m ransom were nabbed

Detectives from Zone 2 Police Command have arrested three suspects, among who is a 64-year-old driver, Kwasi Samuel, over the kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy from his parents’ residence in Millionaires Estate in the Oniru area of Lagos.

It was learnt that Samuel, who worked for the victim’s mother, was discovered to be the mastermind of the kidnap.

Those arrested along with Samuel were identified as Unwachukeu Monday (24) and Freeman Ekpebo.

Before their arrest, the suspects demanded the payment of a N150m ransom but that they were tracked to their hideouts in two hotels in the Ijanikin area of Lagos. Upon their arrest, Samuel pretended to have been abducted along with the boy.

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Their arrest followed a complaint received by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 2, Olatoye Durosinmi, from the victim’s parents.

The spokesman of Zone 2, Umma Ayuba, explained that on March 26, 2024, at about 6am a resident of Millionaires Estate reported the kidnap of her son, maid and driver.

Ayuba said acting on intelligence, a team of detectives led by CSP Tijjani Taofiq swiftly utilised tracking techniques which pinpointed the kidnappers’ hideout in the Ayetoro area of Ijanikin along the Badagry Expressway.

Ayuba explained that, “On March 28, 2024, at 3:40pm officers raided the hideout at Cozzy Hotel, Ijanikin, where one of the suspects, Nnachukwu Monday, was arrested and the victims rescued.

“In a coordinated operation, Mr Samuel Kwasi, the driver, and one Freeman Ekpebo, were apprehended at Sun Era Hotel, Ijanikin, where they were waiting to receive the ransom. Investigation revealed Mr Kwasi to be the mastermind of the kidnap.

“Mr Kwasi has confessed to demobilising the car’s tracking device before the operation. The car’s tracking device and a knife were recovered from the hotel room at Sun Era Hotel where the suspects were lodged.”