The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four persons for allegedly attempting to kill a 60-year -old woman, Gladys Osaigbovo. The suspects have allegedly confessed that they were contracted to kill the woman by her younger sister, based in London. They also confessed that they were given part-payment of N500,000, leaving a balance of N4.5 million.
Suspected assassins and victim
The Lagos State commissioner of police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects, said, on July 26, the divisional police officer of Igando Police Station and a team led by Inspector Cyril Komgbe rounded up a gang that had been mobilised to assassinate Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon, 60, an indigene of Benin City, Edo State.
The CP said the crux of the matter was a case of human trafficking gone awry. Gladys and Augusta were siblings, the eldest in the family being Gladys.
“However, a time came when Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon begged her younger sister, Augusta, to take her daughter, Mercy, overseas for a better life. She obliged and took Mercy to the UK. While in the UK, it dawned on her that her aunt, Augusta, was a leader of a prostitution ring and, indeed, had recruited her into prostitution in London.
Mercy refused to submit herself for the illicit trade, prompting Augusta to give her up to police authorities in the UK. Somehow, Mercy wriggled out of the trouble and convinced the UK police that her travails were caused by Augusta who brought her to London with job promises, unknown to her that she had ulterior motives. The police now turned against Augusta and jailed her.
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“When Augusta finished her jail term, she complained to her sister Gladys, that her daughter, Mercy, whom she brought from the village to help, ruined her. Feeling that her sister was supporting her daughter, she decided to procure assassins to eliminate her in revenge.
“When the DPO, Igando, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, got a whiff of the plans to kill Gladys, he planted two agents provocateurs namely, Igbinedion Ogbevon and Success Ehiosun, to play along with the hired assassins. The gang assembled and were paid N500,000 by Augusta, as mobilization for the job. The names of the assassins are Osaro and Lucky.
“Together, they went to Benin-City and identified their target, Gladys Osaigbovo, after which they returned to Lagos and requested Augusta to give them the balance of N4 million. It was at this stage that they were rounded up.”
Gladys thanked God for sparing her life and confirmed that Augusta was her sibling from the same parents. She also corroborated what the CP said.
Edgal further disclosed that he has contacted the International Police to wade into the matter and repatriate Augusta to Nigeria for prosecution. He said he was proud of Mercy who stood her ground and refused to get on the bandwagon. He also advised parents to be careful when people offer to take their children abroad for jobs, as they might be forced into prostitution.”
