Kidnappers Force Heavily Pregnant Lagos Woman to Travel 334 Kilometers to Deliver Ransom

Kidnappers Force Heavily Pregnant Lagos Woman to Travel 334 Kilometers to Deliver Ransom 

Detectives in Lagos have intensified their crackdown on kidnappers, achieving significant victories, including the recent arrest of several suspects.

A notable success occurred in Ajah, a Lagos suburb, following the abduction of an oil magnate from Ado Road. The kidnappers, a six-man armed gang, took the victim from his dredging site into a flying boat and escaped through the waterways to the creeks in Ondo State.

The heavily armed kidnappers fired shots into the air to deter any intervention. During the escape, the hostage attempted to jump into the river but was recaptured and taken to their stronghold in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. The kidnappers allowed him to contact his family on the third day, demanding a ransom of N200 million.

The family managed to raise N42 million, converting it to dollars as demanded by the kidnappers. When the victim's elder brother offered to deliver the ransom, the kidnappers insisted on speaking with the victim's wife. Despite her advanced pregnancy, they demanded she personally deliver the ransom, threatening to kill her husband if she refused.

Driven by love for her husband, she agreed. Early the next day, she set off with a driver from their home in Ajah. The kidnappers directed them to Ore, about 167 kilometers from Lagos, and then back to Sagamu, Ajah, and finally Odogbolu in Ogun State. Throughout the journey, the kidnappers monitored their movements, warning against involving the police.

After a grueling journey of over 334 kilometers, they were directed to a bush path to drop the ransom. Upon returning to Ajah, they found the victim had been released and was already home. He recounted that his abductors had taken a gold necklace valued at N25 million, a gold hand chain worth N11.8 million, and two gold rings valued at N3.4 million.

Following the kidnapping, the victim's family reported the case to the police but did not involve them in the ransom delivery. The state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, directed his technical team, led by CSP Kehinde Oni, to apprehend the perpetrators. Using scientific, technical, and human intelligence, the police arrested three suspects: Adelaja Ikuesan, 37, Tosin Oke, 40, and Oluwabunmi Yusuf, 39.

The suspects confessed to the crime, expressing regret and vowing never to engage in criminal activities again. Ikuesan, a professional speedboat driver, revealed that they had planned the kidnapping three weeks prior. Oke, known as "Old Soldier," admitted to benefiting from the ransom and using it to address family problems. He denied building a mansion solely from the proceeds of his crimes, stating that he had assistance from family members.

The suspects disclosed that they had sold the victim's gold chains and shared the ransom. Adelaja used his share to buy a new boat. While Old Soldier has nine children from different women but is now married to only one, Adelaja has one wife and a daughter.