The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a den disguised as a shrine and operated by suspected kidnappers in the Idimu area of the state.

Operatives of the command also arrested no fewer than 13 suspects in connection with the discovery.

The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, who led journalists on a tour of the premises located along Pipeline Road in the community on Wednesday, said the suspects were members of a notorious “one-chance” and kidnapping syndicate operating in the state.

He said the arrests followed intelligence-led stop-and-search operations carried out by police operatives in the early hours of Sunday.

According to the CP, three suspects were initially intercepted at Bode Thomas in the Surulere area of the state while operating in a vehicle allegedly used to pick up unsuspecting members of the public, especially 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 did not have rampant cases of conventional kidnapping but noted that such “one-chance” criminal gangs often escalated to kidnapping when victims refused to submit to fraud.

The police boss also noted that the gang targeted worshippers going to mosques and churches early in the morning, exploiting limited 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 gang operated with at least six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna, which was used to pick victims from bus stops and other locations.

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

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

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, narrated how the 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 returned after being given transport fare.

The suspect, who claimed to be about 60 years old, admitted he had been involved in the scheme for about eight years in Lagos.

A female suspect, who identified herself as Tina Willy from Akwa Ibom State, told journalists that she became involved after the death of her husband. She also confirmed that some victims had previously 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 earlier been imprisoned for a fraud-related offence involving N300,000, adding that he spent four months in custody.

Jimoh assured Lagos residents that the command was on top of the security situation, adding that investigations would be extended to mop up all members of the syndicate, including those coming from neighbouring states to commit crimes in Lagos.

He also announced the strengthening of the state’s security architecture with the deployment of tactical teams, including an undercover “walk-and-operate” squad, a coast drive strike force, and the 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. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

Update news