A 38-year-old driver with a hotel in Victoria Island area of Lagos, Williams Olowoloju, yesterday, disclosed that he masterminded the kidnap of his boss’ brother-in-law and his lover, with the intention of raising money for his father-in-law’s burial billed for November 19. Williams, a father of two, was arrested alongside two other suspected members of the kidnap gang—Ayo Akinola, 22, and Sehun Teluwo, 30— over the abduction of one Hilary Chukwu Dumebi and his lover, Rebecca Omokan. Williams and his gang, as gathered, abducted the victims on October 21 at Plot 2, Block 7 Elegba Festival Drive Oniru, Victoria Island. They bundled them into a Ford SUV, with number plates LND 995 ES, tied their limbs and gagged them, before zooming off to an unknown destination. They then demanded N20 million ransom from relatives of the victims. Vanguard gathered that they informed their relatives that they were paid N15 million to assassinate Dumebi, but that they will release him and his lover if they paid N20 million. Arrest The suspects, according to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Imohimi Edgal, were trailed to Agodo Alara-Ogijo in Ogun State. Edgal said: “At about 11p.m. on October 21, the victims were rescued unhurt and their vehicle also recovered. “One locally-made shotgun, one knife, nylon cellotape and two ATM cards were recovered from the suspects. During preliminary investigation, mastermind of the kidnap was discovered to be driver to one of the victims’ sister. “They will soon be charged to court on completion of investigation.” It was gathered that while at the kidnappers’ den, Dumebi’s ATM card was collected from him and N15,000 withdrawn by his captors, which they claimed was used to buy recharge cards for the conversation with the victims’ relatives.”
Confession
In an interview with the alleged mastermind, Williams, he said: “I did not know it will result into this. My trouble started when my father-in-law died. My wife and I were asked to pay N180,000 for the burial last month. “I approached my boss to request for N100,000 loan, but he said he had no money to give to me. In my confused state, I approached one of my friends named Akin Ademola, who suggested we could kidnap my boss’ brother-in-law to raise more than the amount I needed. “On the day of the operation, a Friday, Akin went with us. We trailed our victim to a hotel, where we met him drunk, sitting inside his car. We waited until he drove to his house. “While he was waiting for the security man to open the gate, we swung into action, took him to Ogijo, where we kept him pending when they would pay the ransom. “But I never showed up after then to avoid being arrested after his release.” Meanwhile, Williams had resumed work with his boss, pretending not to know anything about the kidnap, until he was arrested two days later. His arrest, as gathered, followed that of a member of the gang, Ayo Akinola, in whose possession one of the victims phones, with which they had been bargaining with the victims’ relatives, was found.
Source:Vanguard
