Alleged kidnappers of Chinese nationals, others arrested in Ogun

By Deborah Akpede

Four members of a syndicate allegedly involved in the kidnap of two Chinese nationals and receiving N30 million as ransom for their release have been arrested by operatives of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), CSP Umma Ayuba confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the four suspects specialised in kidnapping and robbing residents of Ogun State.

Ayuba said that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of the zone, Adegoke Fayoade received report of the suspects’ activities and detailed a team of detectives from the Zonal Dragon Squad 2 to investigate and bring the suspects to book.

“On May 8, three suspects ages 25, 28 and 30 were apprehended at Sabo Hausa Market, Eleweran, Abeokuta while planning a robbery operation.

“The apprehension of the three suspects led to the arrest of a 45-year-old man in his hideout at Onigbedu, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

“The suspects confessed to taking part in the hijack of cement laden trucks along Onigbedu Area of Ewekoro in Ogun State,” she said.

Ayuba added that in the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to kidnapping two Chinese nationals on Aug. 11, 2024 (Liang Ding Jia ‘m’ and Chen Wen Guang ‘m’) and received N30 million as ransom for their release.

“One of the suspects, the 28-year-old confessed to taking part in a robbery operation at Obada Oko on Jan. 27, where he forcefully had unlawful canal knowledge of a 62-year-old woman right in the presence of her children.

“The victims identified him and narrated their ordeal in the hands of the gang.

“During an interview with the 62-year-old woman, she explained that the suspect wanted to have unlawful canal knowledge of her daughter, but she pleaded with him.

”The he turned to her and forcefully had his way with her in the presence of her two children,’’ Ayuba revealed.

The ZPPRO said that items recovered from the suspects include one locally made pistol, three life cartridges, two unregistered bajaj motorcycles and one berreta pistol with 13 live ammunition.

The image maker said other exhibits recovered from the suspects were N300, 000 cash, one iPhone 7+, one small Tecno phone and Opay Digital Service and UBA ATM.

According to her, investigation is ongoing and efforts intensified to apprehend other suspects at large and recover all exhibits, thereafter suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation. (NAN)