LAGOS POLICE UNCOVER SHRINE-DISGUISED KIDNAPPERS’ DEN, ARREST 13 SUSPECTS IN IDIMU
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a hideout disguised as a shrine and allegedly used by suspected kidnappers in the Idimu area of the state.
Police operatives also arrested at least 13 suspects in connection with the discovery.
The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, while leading journalists on a tour of the facility along Pipeline Road on Wednesday, said the suspects belonged to a notorious “one-chance” and kidnapping syndicate operating within Lagos.
He explained that the arrests followed intelligence-driven stop-and-search operations carried out by officers in the early hours of Sunday.
According to Jimoh, three suspects were first intercepted at Bode Thomas, Surulere, while operating a vehicle allegedly used to lure unsuspecting members of the public, particularly at night and in the early hours of the day.
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.”
The CP noted that Lagos did not experience widespread cases of conventional kidnapping but explained that “one-chance” syndicates often escalated their crimes to kidnapping when victims resisted fraud.
He also revealed that the gang deliberately targeted worshippers heading to mosques and churches in the early morning hours, taking advantage of reduced movement and limited police presence.
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.”
Jimoh disclosed that the syndicate operated with at least six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna, which was used to pick up victims from bus stops and other locations, adding that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining vehicles.
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During the tour, one of the suspects, Rotimi Adilola, admitted that the location served as the group’s operational base.
Another suspect, Amos Ogunna, who claimed ownership of the shrine, described 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.
Also speaking, Emmanuel Njoku, who said he was arrested at Bode Thomas, explained how victims were deceived.
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 victims who refused to cooperate were sometimes released after being given transport fare, adding that he had been involved in the scheme for about eight years.
A female suspect, Tina Willy from Akwa Ibom State, told journalists that she joined the group following the death of her husband and confirmed that some victims had been fully kidnapped after resisting.
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 to having previously served a four-month jail term for a fraud-related offence involving N300,000.
Jimoh assured residents that the command was fully on top of the security situation, stating that investigations would be extended to apprehend all members of the syndicate, including those coming from neighbouring states to perpetrate 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 a soon-to-be-launched 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.
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