Photo Credit: The Sun Nigeria
7 Suspected Kidnappers and Fraudsters Arrested in Lagos for Targeting 125 Traders

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested seven suspected members of two different fraud syndicates terrorizing businessmen and women in Lagos markets.

The arrest was carried out by operatives led by CSP Sunday Cirman.

According to the police, the syndicates specialized in luring successful traders with fake business deals, defrauding them, and in some cases, kidnapping them for ransom.

Police revealed that one of the gangs lured a tyre dealer to Aiyetoro-Itele area of Ogun State, held him hostage and collected about N24 million ransom before freeing him.

The gang met its end when they lured a cloth seller to Ayobo area of Lagos. Operatives who were on their trail swooped on them and arrested three members.

During investigation, police also recovered a list containing names of over 125 business operators in major markets across Lagos who were marked as next targets.

Police said the two groups use different tactics. One group uses roles like “caller” and “receiver” — they approach traders, telling them that a buyer needs a large quantity of goods, mostly bicycle spare parts, and once the goods are supplied to their accomplice, they disappear.

The second group uses the “catcher” and “sitter” method. A member poses as a sailor or foreigner who just arrived with goods to sell, promising huge profit to the victim. He then diverts the victim to their base where they are introduced to a fake dollar-washing scheme and asked to pay for chemicals.

Most of the suspects claimed they joined the crime after they were themselves defrauded and lost their businesses.

One suspect, 61-year-old Patrick Nwankwo from Imo State, said his second-hand clothes business at Katangua Market collapsed after he lost his wife. He said their base is in Ogun State but they target traders in Oshodi, Arena, Idumota, Alaba and Trade Fair markets.

Another suspect, 60-year-old Emeka Obi, said he now allows the gang to use his office for 10 percent of the proceeds. He claimed he joined after being duped while running a drug store in 1990.

47-year-old Charles Okeke said he was a shoemaker in Aba before he was duped while trying to travel abroad through Ghana in 2018.

53-year-old Emmanuel Ekenta from Awka, Anambra State, said he was a successful plate exporter to Ghana until he was duped at the Togo border in 2006 in a dollar-washing scam, after which he decided to join them.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest and said the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, is determined to make Lagos uninhabitable for criminals.

Source: The Sun Nigeria –