Police arrest four who alllegedly abduct hotel manager, demanding N60m ransom

Four suspected members of a kidnapping gang, who allegedly abducted the manager of a hotel in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, have been arrested by the police.Our correspondent learnt that the victim, Mr. Durodola Muwalu, was kidnapped by the gang on Thursday, December 4, at about 7pm, while he was driving to his house in Itokin in the Ikorodu area.PUNCH Metro gathered that Muwalu, who is the manager of Dam-Jay Hotels, Ikorodu, had also been taken away by the gang to a hideout in Imoru, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State...

The abductors reportedly communicated the family and demanded a ransom of N60m.Our correspondent learnt that on Tuesday, December 15, which was about two weeks after his abduction, the police eventually located the kidnapper’s hideout in Ijebu Ode and rescued the hotel manager.

The police also arrested the four suspected gang members ─ Felix Ikuomola, Gbenga Popoola, Adebayo Akibu and Azeez Olowu ─ while three others reportedly fled the scene.PUNCH Metro learnt that the gang initially took their victim to a shrine in Imobi in the Ijebu waterside area, where they spent about a week before they relocated to Imoru.According to the police, one pump-action rifle and 12 cartridges, allegedly used by the gang for the kidnap operation, have been recovered.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, 36-year-old Popoola, a native of Epe, Lagos State, said they were sent by one Agbogidi, a chief in the Itokin area, to kidnap Muwalu, because Agbogidi claimed that the hotel owner allegedly bought vehicles for other chiefs, but left him out.He said, “I work as a commercial driver. I was the one who carried the pump-action rifle on the day of the incident. It was one Agbogidi and Ojurongbe, who contracted me to help them deal with the hotel owner. It was the hotel owner that we wanted to kidnap.

“However, the manager was driving his boss’ car that evening, so we mistook the manager for the owner.“Agbogidi said the hotel owner bought vehicles for other chiefs in Itokin and left him out. So, he contacted us to do the job for him. The police are still looking for Agbogidi and Ojurongbe. We were promised a good part of the ransom, but unfortunately, the family had yet to pay anything before we were arrested.”Forty-year-old Akibu, also from Epe, who claimed to be the driver of the gang, said they later brought down their ransom to N5m when the manager’s family could not raise N60m.He said, “I drove the gang. We blocked his vehicle with ours while he was driving home and asked him to come with us. I followed them because I needed money. When the family could not raise the money, we asked them to pay N10m and later N5m. We did not know the police were tracking our calls.”Olowu, 38, said he supplied the gang with the rifle, adding that he was not told they were heading for a kidnap operation.It was learnt that after information had reached the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, about the incident, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad team, led by Abba Kyari, was instructed to track the kidnappers.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest of the kidnappers, adding that investigations were on.He said, “The kidnappers’ hideout was traced to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and after the police searched the compound, the victim was rescued, while the suspects were arrested. Investigation continues on the matter.”