Suspected kidnappers of Lagos council chairman flee to Ghana — Police

The Police in Lagos on Thursday said three of the four suspects who allegedly kidnapped Kehinde Bamigbetan, Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area in Lagos had fled to Ghana.
The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who stated this while addressing newsmen, added that the Nigeria Police Force had contacted its Ghanaian counterpart for their arrest.

Manko stated that one of Bamigbetan’s kidnappers died of some injuries he sustained while attempting to flee from police in a hotel.

“We got information that the gang was in a hotel. A team of police, led by SP Abba Kyari, stormed the hotel in company of the deceased’s girl friend who was arrested earlier,” he said.

He alleged that the suspect jumped out through the window of a three story hotel building, when he noticed that his girl friend was with police and broke his legs.

“He eventually died as a result of the injuries sustained,” he added.

Manko expressed optimism that those on the run would be caught, adding that investigation was still on.

The police chief said some weapons and ammunition, including three AK47 rifles, 11 AK47 magazines fully loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, were recovered.

“While I agree that there are few cases of kidnapping in recent times, I don’t believe they are on the rampage.

“When we face challenges, we find a way to tackle them.

“We have gone after the kidnappers in the state and we have started recording progress.

“During investigation, we discovered that these kidnappers that we arrested migrated from the East and we have identified their camps at Ikorodu.

“But unfortunately, when we got there, none of the victims was there but we recovered some AK47 rifles and 11 magazines,” Manko said.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects from Ebonyi, admitted to taking part in the different kidnap operations carried out since February.

“The first and second operations, we made N1 million and I got N100,000 as my share but we made N2 million in the third and fourth operation,” the suspect said.

Bamigbetan:One of the Kidnappers jumps to his death

Bamigbetan

One of the kidnappers of the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan, jumped to his death at a hotel along Old Ojo road, Agboju, Lagos.

Although Bamigbetan was set free by his abductors on Saturday night, five days after he was kidnapped, it was learnt that police pressure could be part of the reasons he was released.

The LCDA boss returned to his house at about 10.45pm, an hour after he was released by his abductors on Saturday.

A police source said, “the dead member was actually in the hotel with some members of the kidnapping gang.

“However, by the time SARS operatives got there, other members of his group had cleared out leaving just the dead allegedly called 'Onye Army’

“While some of the SARS operatives went up to his room and knocked on the door, some waited by the entrance of the hotel. It seems, however, that Onye Army had sighted them through his window because he refused to open up the door. When they started to force the door open, he came out on the balcony, hoping to jump down safely and make his escape.

“Unfortunately, it was a fatal fall. Onye Army broke both legs and his spine; he was in serious pains. Despite all attempts to keep him alive and lead the SARS operatives to the hideout where his colleagues were keeping Bamigbetan, he died while being rushed to the hospital.

All these happened- Bamigbetan's release and capture of some members of the kidnapping group “After the family had paid the N15m initially requested and the kidnappers reneged on the agreement and demanded another N10m.

Nigeria: Kidnappers release council boss

Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan has been released by his captors.

Kehinde Bamigbetan

P.M.NEWS gathered that he was released Saturday night by the kidnappers, who had earlier demanded for $1 million to be paid before his release.

He returned home to his family around 11 p.m Saturday night.

It was not clear how much ransom was paid to the kidnappers to effect the release, but sources said each of the 20 Local Government and 37 LCDA contributed money.

Bamigbetan was kidnapped on Monday night. He was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at about 11p.m. while he was about to enter his street, Ona Iwa Mimo, Ori-Oke near Egbe bridge in Ejigbo.

He was with his driver, Abiodun Olayiwola, in his black SUV with customised registration number Lagos KOK when the gunmen waylaid him.

The council boss was said to be on his way home from an official assignment when the incident occurred. The matter has been reported at Ejigbo Police Station. His SUV was badly damaged by an electric pole which stopped it while the driver tried to escape from the gunmen.

His driver, Olayiwola, who managed to escape with bruises all over his body, said that they were ambushed by at least four gunmen a few metres away from bamigbetan’s house.