Photo: Kidnappers den uncovered in Ogun state, kidnappers arrested

The Ogun state police command have uncovered a kidnappers den at Odubotu compound, located in Okesopen area of Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun state.

According to Vanguard, the kidnappers, 46 year old Mukaila Dauda who served as a herbalist in the syndicate, Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular commercial motorcyclist, Sunkanmi Dacosta and Lateef Agboola were arrested after a failed attempt to kidnapped a herb seller known as Iyaagbo at Ijebu-Ode /Ikorodu Road, Lagos State.


The kidnappers had trailed her from her Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin where her shop was. They arrived at her shop disguising as prospective buyers.

Sensing all was not well, the woman told the strangers that she doesn't have what they requested for but as she made to leave the shop, she was bundled into the kidnappers car and driven away with gunshots fired to scare away intruders. Luck however ran out on them after the back two tyres of the vihicle they were riding in punctured.

Explaining how they were arrested, Ahmed Adesanya, a commercial motorcyclist, from Omu Eleni town said;

“When I got to the place, I met one Mama Alagbo, our Okada unit chairman, Ahmed (Soldier), Yemi Agboola and Tunde Akilo inside the car. But four of them, including Mama Alagbo, took off on my motorcycle, while Yemi Agboola, Tunde Akilo and I drove in the car. But on reaching Imodi town, we met some policemen at a checkpoint, who insisted on checking the vehicle. Agboola and myself escaped into the bush but we did not see TundeAkilo. A week later, he (Akilo ) led policemen to my house and I was arrested. I used my Okada to take some passengers to the herbalist’s house. My targets are usually passengers who do not know where they are going”.he said

On his part, another member of the syndicate, Tunde Akilo, confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity and also admitted to being involved in armed robbery operations within the Ijebu axis.

“I have only taken part in two kidnap operations. One was the abduction of Chief Alakoso, after which I was given N250, 000. The second operation was that of Mama Alagbo which unfortunately was unsuccessful. One Yemi Agboola, a relative to the woman, brought the deal to us . He said her relatives could provide N1 million if kidnapped. If I had known, I would have remained in the robbery gang instead of joining this syndicate”, he said

For 38-year-old Dascosta who was also arrested, he confessed to being a member of a robbery gang, claiming he was introduced into kidnapping by the herbalist, Dauda, when he went to him for spiritual protection. Like his colleague, Akilo, he expressed regret for joining the kidnap syndicate, saying he had only earned N310,000 since he joined.

On his part, Mukaila, the herbalist said he was responsible for hiding the kidnapped victims until a ransom is paid for their release

"I am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for 25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other ailments which are beyond medical treatment. At a point, business was no longer moving and feeding my two wives and six children became burdensome. It was at this point that I met Tunde Akilo, a commercial motorcyclist, and Sunkanmi Dacosta, who introduced me to kidnapping. My role is to keep victims in my house, pending when their families would pay ransom. I never went out with them but I gave them names of prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo. Some of these people have patronized me. The first person that was brought to my house was one Chief Alakoso. He was brought in March, blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid four days later, for keeping him in my place. This amount was aside my regular share from the loot because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave their contacts to my members. I usually prepared charms to fortify members before they go for any job. This is to enable them get their catch without trouble. I also prepared charms that will make victims lose their senses. A day before they would leave, I would lit fire and say some incantations into it. The fire will be on until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process, that means they have entered into trouble” he said

All five of them will soon be charged to court.