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.
