We Raped Journalist, Collected N1m Ransom -- Suspected Kidnappers

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers,
Bashiru Raji and Christian Jacob, who confessed to have raped a
journalist and also collected N1m to release her in one of their
operations.

PUNCH reported that the suspected kidnappers were arrested by
operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on August 16 in the
Egbeda area of Lagos. The police said the time of arrest was about
10am.

A PUNCH correspondent gathered that the five-man gang, which the two
suspects belonged to, was notorious in the South West for several
robbery and kidnapping operations.

It was gathered that the gang had been on the wanted list of the
police for some kidnapping operations including one involving a female
journalist in 2012.

It was further learnt that the gang, after realising that they were
wanted by the police, left the South West and went to Delta State to
continue their activities.

According to the police, Raji and Jacob were lured from Delta State to
participate in a bank robbery in Lagos, where they were eventually
arrested.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, 36-year-old Raji from Odigbo, Ondo State,
said they were paid N1m ransom for the journalist, adding that the
gang members also raped the woman.

He said, "We are five members of the gang. It was one of my neighbours
who introduced me to the gang ─ a boy who usually smoked weeds and
Indian hemp. His name is Ebiri. During the kidnap operation of that
female journalist, I was the one who drove the vehicle.

"We picked her on the expressway and took her to our hideout. We
collected N1m ransom before we released her. We also raped her.
"I did not rape her, but the other gang members raped her. I was given
N200,000 for that operation. I don't know why the gang kidnapped her.
The other members initiated the operation, not me.

"I was working as a mechanic initially. Apart from the kidnapping of
the female journalist, we carried out other operations. We knew we
were wanted by the police. That was why we went to Delta State. It was
while in Delta that we were called that there was work for us in
Lagos. When we arrived in Lagos, we were arrested."

Raji, who is married with seven children, added that the person who
called them had claimed they would rob a Mallam who had dollars in
Lagos and also participate in a bank robbery operation.

For 35-year-old Jacob who hails from Nkerefi, Enugu State, a friend
had invited him to participate in kidnapping the female journalist,
and he had been given N10,000 in the operation.

He said, "I was a trader in Oshodi Market, Akure. I was selling
foodstuffs. One of my friends at that time called me to participate in
the kidnapping of the woman. I was given only N10,000.

"But apart from foodstuffs, I also have a weeds farm. I sell the weeds
mostly to big buyers from the northern part of the country. I have
been doing weeds farming for about three years. After each harvest, I
make about N150,000 from the sale."

PUNCH correspondent learnt that the former Commissioner of Police,
Lagos State, AIG Umar Manko, had directed the Commander of SARS, SP
Abba Kyari, to get the suspected kidnappers.

PUNCH