The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a den used by suspected kidnappers and disguised as a shrine in the Idimu area of the state.
At least 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the discovery.
The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, took journalists on a tour of the premises located along Pipeline Road in Idimu on Wednesday, Jan. 21. He 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, Jan. 18.
According to the CP, three suspects were initially intercepted at Bode Thomas in Surulere 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.