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Lagos billionaire kidnappers: Last-minute conversation before they struck at Ladipo

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2024

Henry Odenigbo

Lagos billionaire kidnappers: Last-minute conversation before they struck at Ladipo

As if in a movie, the conversation between the leader of recently killed billionaire kidnappers in Lagos, said to be a Nollywood actor/producer, Prince Henry Ode and another member of the notorious gang planted at the market on the day of their operation, has been exposed.

Police sources said they had stationed one of their members inside the popular auto spare parts market on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, Lagos, to monitor the movement of their target, hours before they struck at the market.

It was learned that he was giving them minute by minute information on the movement of their victim, and when it was ripe to strike, he gave the go-ahead information.

It was gathered that details of their conversation emerged after detectives at the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad led by Kehinde Oni unearthed vital digital and electronic information about their preparation for the operation, during which the squad swooped on them and in an exchange of fire, they were neutralised.

It learned that the hoodlums had arrived the market not knowing that they were being watched by detectives, who were personally selected by state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, strategically stationed.

Intelligence revealed that a voice recorded message was going on between the popular Nollywood actor and a-yet-to be identified member of the gang posted to the market to monitor their victim.

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The voice recorded conversation in Igbo language ran thus:

Actor: How far, is he out now? Which road leads to that place, is it through airport or 7/8?

Member: I don’t know the road he uses. I am still watching him. Where are you people now? Have you taken off? He has entered his car, no time.

Actor: Do you know your problem? You are never calculative. You are a drunk. Drink will make you not to achieve anything in life. So you have the compass about the man’s movement and you did not tell us earlier? Continue drinking. All I want is for you to give me the information I need. After we must have succeeded and given you your share, you can finish it on drinks, no wahalla. How many times did I call you. We don dey come.

Member: Please don’t be angry with me, no vex. You know how Ladipo is now.

Actor: Be careful and know how you are picking calls, be careful oooo.

Member: That’s what I am doing and you said I was drunk. I am always very careful. Please forgive me. I always step out each time I wanted to answer your call, biko (please).

Actor: No wahalla, just hold your phone steady. Monitor the guy. Let me know all his movement.

Member: I have heard, no wahalla.

Actor: We are on our way. We are at Bucknor.

Member: Where exactly are you people? What is happening? I need to know how far. The man is still there. I am still in the market. You know they are about closing for the day. I don’t want to attract unnecessary attention.

Meanwhile, more revelations emerged with details of how the killed Nollywood actor, identified as Prince Ode had cleverly avoided both arrest and prying eyes of members of the public after abducting their victims.

Sources said unknown to his colleagues in the industry, he normally dumps his victims in another wing of their location and most of the time, he plays the role of either a sharp shooter or a lone ranger which involved handling weapons

Sources said some of his victims revealed that they always hear noise of rehearsals from where they were confined and most times, they will hear many people talking loudly followed with laughters.

At press time, Vanguard gathered that detectives were still making frantic efforts to unravel names of all the dead kidnappers, including their background and other necessary information about them.

According to sources, “It is only then that we will be able to tell the world their identities and it will not be long.”

Lagos billionaire kidnappers: Last-minute conversation before they struck at Ladipo

Vanguard

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Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Shawulu Dan-Mammam,Commissioner of Police, Niger State

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

In a tragic turn of events, kidnappers who abducted a hotel owner, his manager, and a guest in Gauraka community, Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State, have executed their captives despite receiving a ransom of N25 million.

The incident, which occurred early on August 17, 2024, has also claimed the lives of two local vigilantes, Abubakar Muhammad and Ibrahim Garba, who were killed while delivering the ransom.

According to reports from City & Crime, the bodies of the victims were found in the Dogon-Daji Forest, a border area between Kaduna, Niger State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They were subsequently transported to an air force base near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Hussaini Abubakar, the commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Tafa, confirmed that the remains of the vigilantes were buried on Saturday following military clearance.

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Additionally, a man previously abducted from the community about a month ago was rescued with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at an army medical facility in Abuja.

The abduction began around 1 am when the kidnappers raided the hotel, forcibly taking all the lodgers. Witnesses reported that the bandits fired shots while leaving, drawing attention to the crime. Despite the presence of a security hunter nearby, the individual fled upon seeing the attackers.

Community residents have expressed growing frustration over the escalating attacks, noting that the bandits frequently operate in nearby forests and along major roads, including the Ijah-Koro and Ijah-Gwari roads leading to Bwari town in the FCT.

Gauraka has experienced at least five kidnapping incidents in the past four months, underscoring the urgent need for increased security measures in the area.

Kidnappers kill hotel owner, manager, guest after collecting N25m ransom

metro

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested five Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining activities in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibieno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The EFCC announced the arrests on Sunday, stating that its Special Task Force on Illegal Mining, operating in Uyo, carried out the operation based on credible intelligence regarding illicit mining activities conducted by foreign companies in Eket and Ibieno LGAs.

This development underscores the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to clamp down on illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s natural resources from exploitation by foreign entities.

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The agency’s vigilance in addressing illegal operations continues to support the country’s broader fight against environmental degradation and economic sabotage.

“The five arrested Chinese suspects are Zhon Qinping, apprehended on 10 September, and Li Yi, Xie Bin, Chen Mou Zhou, and Chen Zeng, arrested on 29 August.

“They were arrested at an illegal mining site, where a mineral suspected to be ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, was being extracted.

“The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Five Chinese arrested in Akwa Ibom for illegal mining

(NAN)

metro

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Trends Admin

Umar Shehu

Katsina community corps arrests suspect supplying hard drugs to bandits

The Katsina Community Watch Corps (CWC) has apprehended Umar Shehu on allegations of supplying illegal injections and drugs to bandits involved in kidnappings in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The arrest was reported by Bakatsine, a security expert and Conflict and Crisis Journalist in the Northwest region, via a post on X.

Accompanying the post was a video showing a significant quantity of syringes and Umar Shehu’s confession to his involvement in the illegal activities.

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“GOOD NEWS: The Katsina Community Watch Corp (CWC) in Ɗandume Local Government Area has successfully apprehended a man named Umar Shehu, who was involved in trafficking illegal injections and drugs to supply to bandits engaged in kidnappings in Sabuwa LGA all in Katsina State,” the post reads.

“The security team gathered crucial information from Umar and others, but only Umar’s information appeared in the video while others were not recorded for security reasons, according to an insider.”