Police Raid “Fake Shrine,” Arrest Lagos Kidnap Suspects

At least 13 kidnapping suspects have been arrested after the Lagos State Police Command uncovered a hideout disguised as a shrine in the Idimu area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, who took journalists on a tour of the premises along Pipeline Road on Wednesday, said the suspects belonged to a notorious “one-chance” and kidnapping syndicate operating within the state.

He explained that the arrests followed intelligence-driven stop-and-search operations conducted by police operatives in the early hours of Sunday.

According to the CP, three suspects were first intercepted at Bode Thomas in the Surulere area while operating in a vehicle allegedly used to pick unsuspecting members of the public, particularly at night and in the early hours of the morning.

He said, “The syndicate usually lured victims under the pretence of selling dollars or offering fake investment schemes that promised to double money before taking them to the shrine.

“This gang is led by one Demola Adelua, who has been operating for over eight years. He controls about six operational teams across Lagos State.

“If victims cooperate and they succeed in defrauding them, they release them. But if the victim is too smart and refuses to cooperate, they bring the person here, lock them inside this room they call a shrine, and then call their relatives to demand ransom.”

He stressed that the state had not recorded widespread cases of conventional kidnapping, but noted that such “one-chance” criminal gangs often escalated to kidnapping when victims resisted fraud attempts.

The police boss also stated that the gang targeted worshippers heading to mosques and churches early in the morning, taking advantage of reduced movement and low police presence at such hours.

He said, “Only two formal complaints were initially received, which prompted the command to establish tactical stop-and-search points in the identified axis.

“The three suspects arrested led us to this operational base. We conducted an on-the-spot search and recovered weapons used for their criminal activities.

“Following the discovery, operatives raided the surrounding area and arrested additional members of the gang, bringing the total number of suspects arrested in the operation to 14,” he added.

The CP disclosed that the syndicate operated with at least six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna, which was used to pick victims from bus stops and other locations.

He, however, said efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining vehicles.

During the tour, one of the suspects, Rotimi Adilola, admitted that the premises served as the group’s operational base.

When asked who owned the shrine, another suspect, Amos Ogunna, said he was responsible for the place, describing it as similar to a church.

“This is my shrine. He is my friend. I knew him through my brother, and I stayed with him in Ijegun. We are local 419. My colleagues bring customers with a motor. Sometimes people pay N100,000, sometimes N200,000,” he said.

Another suspect, Emmanuel Njoku, who said he was arrested at Bode Thomas, explained how victims were lured.

He said, “We go there to carry people. We tell them we are going to Lagos. Somebody will say she has dollars. Anybody who is greedy will ask questions. From there, we interview the person and bring them here.”

Njoku claimed that those who refused to cooperate were sometimes released after being given transport fare.

The suspect, who said he was about 60 years old, admitted he had been involved in the operation for about eight years in Lagos.

A female suspect, who identified herself as Tina Willy from Akwa Ibom State, told journalists that she joined the group after the death of her husband. She also confirmed that some victims had been fully kidnapped after refusing to cooperate.

She said, “I am not working with them steadily. My husband died, and I had no money. I met my brother, who introduced me to the business, and that was how I followed them. There was a woman they carried before. She did not play along, and they called her family to pay ransom.”

Another suspect admitted he had previously been jailed for a fraud-related offence involving N300,000, adding that he spent four months in custody.

Jimoh assured Lagos residents that the command was firmly in control of the security situation, adding that investigations would be expanded to apprehend all members of the syndicate, including those coming from neighbouring states to carry out crimes in Lagos.

He also announced the reinforcement of the state’s security framework with the deployment of tactical teams, including an undercover “walk-and-operate” squad, a coast drive strike force, and the planned launch of an anti-crime patrol and community protection squad.

“I want to assure Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses without fear. Full deployment has been carried out across the nooks and crannies of the state,” the CP added.

How safe do you feel during your daily commute in urban centres across Nigeria, and what more should security agencies and communities do to curb “one-chance” crimes before they turn deadly? Share your views in the comment section.