A woman, 60, Aminat Karimu Ajibola, has been arrested along with her two sons, Akeem Bashiru, 32 years and Ojo Solomon, 26 years, for allegedly masterminding the kidnap of over ten persons in Lagos.
The woman and her children were arrested by detectives from the Lagos State Police Command after weeks of painstaking undercover investigation.
The trio, according to the police, is members of a family of 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.
It was gathered that detective on September 7, stormed the kidnappers’ den located at No.15, Irepodun street, Egan, Igando, Lagos, operated by a mother, Aminat Karimu Ajibola, and her two sons based on intelligence report received.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti ,who confirmed the arrest said that the trio met their Waterloo when one Ms. Bridget Obazee, approached the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Igando Police station, Taiwo Kasumu, at about 4 am to complain that her brother, Osahon Obazee, was missing for days.
Oti said that the complaint alleged that those who kidnapped her brother were threatening to kill him unless they pay the sum of N1.5 million as ransom.
Oti said that the lady added that the kidnappers warned her not to involve the police else her brother will be killed.
He said that 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 11 am, 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” he said.
He said that the CP Lagos hoped that by this feat and several others in the past, criminals ought to have seen how futile it is to carry out their trade in any part of the state no matter how far-flung the area may be.
He said that the Lagos state police boss, therefore, warned that criminal elements in the state should either repent or be busted as Lagos is no hibernating ground for criminals.
He thanks the good people of Lagos state for their cooperation by way of giving the police credible information.
