Forget Boko Haram, Lagosians live in the fear of kidnappers

 

Before now, the notoriety of kidnappings was loudest in the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria because of neglect by the government and mass unemployment. But FRANCIS SUBERU reports that the crime has assumed new dimensions in Lagos and other parts of the country.
Fears of two criminal activities gripped Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital city and the commercial and economic hub of the country in the second quarter of this year. While the first, a rumoured planned attack of the Boko Haram terrorist group, was nipped in the bud, the other, kidnapping for ransom, gained ground and is still keeping residents on the edge.
Lagos, hitherto thought to be impenetrable to kidnappers, suddenly became the focal point and hot bed of the criminals, who abduct high profile personalities and even ordinary citizens, such that no week passes without an incident being reported.
This new form of criminality is fast replacing armed robbery, as more and more hoodlums see it as much more financially rewarding.
Generally, kidnapping is taking somebody away subtly or forcefully against his will; usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority. A ransom is demanded and often paid before the person regains his freedom. It might equally be done in furtherance of another crime, especially when parties are involved in a dispute.
The booming crime of kidnapping in Nigeria is new to Lagosians. It started in the Niger Delta in the late 1990s and gained notoriety towards the end of the last decade as agitators and activists who later became militants used it as a means of getting government’s attention to environmental degradation in the region. Then, kidnapping was seen as a form of protest against the federal government and the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the region. The kidnappers concentrated on abducting expatriates and oil workers in the Niger Delta but things soon went out of hand when disgruntled youths and criminals in the Aba axis of Eastern region embraced the crime.
Experts say that many factors, including government’s failure to provide basic economic and social safety nets for the citizens, mass youth unemployment, political brigandage, cultism, gangsters, family breakdown and moral laxity in the face of duplicitous religion as well as inefficient and corrupt security system are some of the reasons why kidnapping strives in Nigeria.
Of all these factors, the one that clearly stands out is the politicians’ involvement. Many security experts are of the view that if solution is to be found to kidnapping problem in Nigeria, the federal government must take drastic steps to withdraw all the guns and ammunition given by politicians to their thugs while contesting for elections.
But even as kidnapping became more profitable than armed robbery, the criminals made headlines with their loots elsewhere in the country, which Lagosians only read and listened to in the media. But all that has changed.
The hoodlums didn’t wait for long before announcing their infamous grand arrival recently with the kidnapping of the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, who was abducted on his way home from work. He was held for four days and was only released when a ransom of N15million was paid.
Before Bamigbetan, a student of the American International School, Ikoyi, was similarly kidnapped on Lagos Island while on his way to school. Initial report was that the pupil was abducted together with the family driver who was with him at the time of the incident.
The victim, whose identity was deliberately shielded, is an eleventh grade student of the school. Both parents, who are American citizens were said to be out of the country at the time of the incident and had to quickly return to be part of negotiations with the kidnappers to free their son. After two weeks, the victim was rescued by policemen attached to Ikoyi Division inside a forest at Ilaro, Ogun State.
The rescue operation however was very intricate and fatal as one of the kidnap suspects was reportedly killed in the shootout; just as a police officer was reportedly stabbed twice by the kidnappers while attempting to avoid being captured.
Surprisingly, the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping was said to be the same family driver conveying the teenager to school. The driver was identified as Adebayo John. It had earlier been thought that the driver was abducted together with the boy.
It was however not clear whether the kidnappers succeeded in collecting all or part of the N60m ransom demanded from the boy’s parents.
Yet another incident was that of Kemisola Ogunyemi, who was kidnapped at about 8.30pm in Ajah, Lagos on February 10 this year. Kemisola was kidnapped about a minute’s drive to her Abraham Adesanya Estate home at Ajah.
Before the incident, Kemisola and her husband were new tenants, as they had lived less than one month in the estate.
Eye witnesses told National Mirror that Kemisola was trailed to the Jeffery Plaza, Ajah, by some people suspected to be kidnappers who suddenly drove their vehicle in front of her Murano Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and blocked the car. They said the kidnappers shot into the air sporadically as they forcelly opened the car, took over the steering and sped off with Kemisola still inside the vehicle.
She was eventually released after being held for a week following the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
Interactions with suspected kidnappers by our correspondent revealed that there are three major kinds of kidnappings.
The first is those involving high profile personalities such as the mother of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, and Bamigbetan mentioned earlier.
Such kidnappings involve detailed planning and insider information; moreover, the mission requires the use of force as such persons are usually surrounded by armed security.
In the case of Bamigbetan, he was abducted by gunmen in the late evening but he was without any security detail because he refuses the use of police orderly.
Narrating his ordeal, Bamigbetan said: “As I was driving into my street, I suddenly saw a vehicle trying to ram into my car. My first reaction was for me and the driver to reverse but when the kidnappers alighted and started firing the vehicle got stuck, even as we tried to escape.
“They caught up with me and asked why we were running, saying the did not want to kill me. I then paused, given that they were not after my life. But I told them I was afraid, so they ordered me back into the vehicle. While inside, they ordered me to lie faced down. I remained in that position for about four hours while they were driving.
“My ears were picking the sound of the tyres and at some point, we got to a place, they then blindfolded me and led me into a room and I felt my hands on the carpet. They demanded that I must not open my eyes even as they kept tightening the piece of cloth.
“Later, they began asking questions. And from the questions, I realised they that they had taken possession of my laptop computer and other documents in the car and were perusing through them.”
Answering National Mirror’s questions, the gang leader of the group that kidnapped Prof. Kamene Okonjo, Jideofor Ogbue, said the name of the president was used to take the queen out of their palace.
According to them, they told her the president wanted to see her in connection with some money her daughter embezzled.
Ogbue, also confessed that a former messenger at the palace, Victor Onochie, assisted with information that helped them gain access to the palace and even helped in the initial success of the operation, revealing the gang collected N13million as ransom, before the minister’s mother was released.
Lagos kidnappers have targeted children more, forcing parents of victims to pay out huge sums of money for the release of their wards. Child kidnapping is the second type and is often easier than those of adults or high profile personalities as it does not endanger the lives of kidnappers or the use of force or gun.
The most prominent feature of this is that a relative or someone with very close tie to the victim or family is usually involved like in the case of the student of American International School.
A suspect, Raymond Quadri, who kidnapped a nine-year old boy, Daniel, at Ikotun area of Lagos in February, told our correspondent: “He knew I did not plan to harm him. All I wanted was to collect money from his parents and buy him some gifts to entice and make him happy so he would not expose the deal.”
His girlfriend and co-culprit, Bolanle, who hosted the victim after the abduction, said she was only told by Raymond that the boy would be spending the weekend in her apartment. And she only became worried and suspicious after her boyfriend stayed away from the house longer than necessary.
Bolanle said: “When he did not come back to pick Daniel after two days, I became worried and started calling him but he soon stopped answering the calls. I later confided in my friend who advised I enquire on what was happening from Daniel.
“When on Sunday Raymond still did not come to my house, I bought some snacks for Daniel and enquired what was happening. He then told me that ‘Uncle Raymond’ planned a deal with him and implored he tells no one.

Kidnap suspects paraded by the police with arms and amunition recovered from them.

“That was how I got to know about the kidnapping. The following day, I called Raymond but he did not call back. Later, someone picked up the phone and I told the person to inform my boyfriend that he is yet to pick the boy he brought to my house. He should come and pick him up, as I would be going to work. Hours later, I saw some police officers arrive and arrested me while taking away the boy.”
The third kind of kidnapping is that of adult kidnapping. This also requires force and could be anybody suspected by the kidnappers to have enough money to pay for his freedom.
An accused, Sunday James, who confessed to have participated in four different kidnappings in Lagos this year, told National Mirror that his gang’s method of operation entails driving around Lagos metropolis seeking out anyone in a new and flashy car. If someone is spotted, he or she is immediately ambushed and kidnapped. James who said he was introduced into the crime by one Victor Emmanuel claimed that he was into the nefarious business to make ends meet.
“It all started in January, when Victor paid for an apartment at Lekki where we usually hold kidnapped victims. The first kidnapping we embarked on was in February this year and we collected N1 million as ransom from the victim. I got N100, 000 as my share of the booty.
“Victor usually takes the lion share since he was the main financier of the group. He was responsible for recruiting gang members and also seeks out who should be kidnapped. When we go out for operation, he usually stays in the front seat and when we see anyone driving a flashy car, he would order the driver to stop and then we kidnap the person.
“He is also the contact person. He controls all phone calls and contacts with victims’ relatives and usually is the one to collect the ransom at the agreed and designated spot. ‘Pastor’ is the one who supplies the guns. He is not a real pastor but attends a church where he is well known and respected. My part is to follow them during operations and take part in the kidnapping process.”
Speaking on the effort sof the Nigeria police to curb the dangerous trend, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide (DSP), said kidnapping is not on the increase in the state as being speculated.

Bamigbetan

According to her, the reason why people think the incident is on the increase is due to the fact that more suspected kidnappers are being arrested and reported in the media.
Also the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko, recently told journalists that most kidnap suspects arrested by the Command did not commit such offence in the state, citing the case of Prof. Kamene Okonjo.
Manko advised Lagos residents to go about their lawful businesses as the police is already having the upper hand in the fight against kidnappers and their unwholesome trade.
He equally advised relatives of kidnapped victims to keep faith and stop panicking and being quick and ready to pay ransom, saying kidnappers gain more confidence when ransom is paid.