After the kidnap of six residents in 24 hours, there is a security alert in Lagos state. Lagos Island has particularly witnessed a series of enhanced security measures with most of the victims abducted.
Outside of the state’s affluent neighbourhoods, there is a general feeling of concern among residents after a security company, Eons Intelligence, published a recent security advisory urging residents to be on the lookout for red flags in their daily interactions.
The security outfit specifically urged residents to rely more on technology to navigate the city rather than seek help from people who could turn out to be lurking kidnappers.
As communities grapple with the evolving security reality, it is learned that Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba has instructed the intelligence team affiliated with his office to immediately work with the state command to rescue the abducted from the captivity of the kidnappers.
The unit, known as the Inspector General of the Police Intelligence Response Team, is led by Mr Tunji Disu, an assistant commissioner of police who replaced embattled police officer Abba Kyari, who was suspended following his charges of money laundering in relation to Hush puppies in the United States.
Kidnapping is not new in the state, but the incessant increase especially with last week’s incidents has been a cause for concern to many residents.
This hit another height with the kidnapping of retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sikiru Smith, a cousin of former Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith, now head of the Police Service Commission.
AVM Smith, CEO of Double Wealth Ventures Limited, was monitoring the financial institution’s dredging activities in Ajah on Monday when hooded gunmen entered the area and abducted him.
The kidnapped army driver, Corporal Odiji, who disclosed the incident in a Save Our Soul message, said that the masked men had arrived at the kidnapping site in a speedboat and fired sporadic shots to scare the workers at the site before abducting him.
“This is an emergency. I am Corporal Odiji attached to Air Vice Marshal Smith. They just abducted him from the site where we were working. Some gunmen who were wearing masks just came and snatched my boss.
“They shot everywhere. I was near where I was fixing my boss’s vehicle. As I was coming, I saw them leaving in a boat but I wasn’t armed. So, I just ran to his site. I saw his glasses and where he struggled with them. Please, pass on the information. It is an emergency.”
On Sunday the day before the abduction of the retired AVM, Ogbuagu Kingsley was abducted from a church auditorium in FESTAC Town.
The armed hijackers reportedly arrived in a Lexus Sports Utility vehicle, entered the church, and kidnapped Kingsley.
Kingsley’s friends quickly launched a viral search online for him, popular #ENDSARS activist Rinu Oduala put up a search post as well, with many retweets of the abduction report. A few days later, the state police command revealed he had been saved and reunited with his family.
The police command didn’t give details on how he was rescued, nor was there any statement about any ransom paid.
On the same day, Kingsley was kidnapped, an unidentified man was also abducted by another gang of masked men along Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos.
Concerned about rising kidnapping rates in the state, Eons Intelligence published some safety tips for state residents to protect themselves from kidnapping and other forms of crime.
The company reported that in addition to the abductions in Ajah, Lekki and FESTAC, there was another incident in which a pastor, his wife and his driver were abducted by masked gunmen in the Dopemu area.
The armed men who took away the pastor and his wife had demanded N 100 million. Afterwards, released the wife to source for a reduced ransom of N 50 million.
The police later confirmed the abduction of the pastor and promised to obtain his release soon. As with the other cases, nothing was mentioned about the demanded ransom.
Apparently still grieving the loss of one of its officers in a recent mob attack, the state police command is trying everything possible to combat the increase in kidnappings in the state, leading to the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a raid in Ikorodu early Thursday.
The police said it was a burst operation that resulted in an exchange of gunfire. While another member of the said gang, a 25-year-old Peter Thomas, was arrested.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said some suspects related to Smith’s kidnapping were also arrested but their identities were not made available.
Odumosu said: “The long arm of the law has caught up with a notorious kidnap gang as operatives of the Lagos State police command smashed the gang in its criminal hideout in the deep forest in Imota/Emuren area of Lagos State.
“The forest has been notorious for keeping their victims and collection of ransom for which one Lukmon Onabanjo, alias Bugon, was a victim in the recent past. The successful operation started at about 23:30 hrs on 29th September 2021 after days of intelligence monitoring on the gang.
“The recent kidnapping incident in the state further invigorated the determination of the command not to allow the criminals to turn the state to a theatre of kidnapping. On sighting the police operatives, the daredevil armed kidnappers engaged them in a shootout that lasted for some hours.
“In a determined and courageous spirit, the operatives returned the heavy fire. In the ensuing gun battle, two of the suspected armed kidnappers were fatally injured but later gave up the ghost, while being conveyed to the hospital for medical attention.
“One was arrested alive. Other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds. Manhunt and security onslaught has been emplaced for their arrest.”
The police command, however, disagrees with the conclusion that kidnapping is on the increase in the state. Adekunle Ajisebutu police spokesperson had earlier said: “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, wishes to assure residents that Lagos State is safe and that they should not panic on account of the viral post or the recent security infringement in Ajah where AVM Sikiru Smith (rtd) was abducted on 27th September 2021.
“The assurance becomes imperative in view of the unnecessary alarm and concerns being raised on the social media about isolated security infractions in some parts of the state.
“The victim, who was kidnapped in FESTAC on Sunday, 26th September 2021, has been rescued and reunited with his family. Operatives of the command are being tactical so as not to jeopardise the lives of the AVM and the pastor. Concerted efforts are ongoing to rescue them and arrest their abductors in due course.
“The Commissioner of Police wishes to state that the isolated incidents notwithstanding, Lagos State is, and will remain, one of the safest states in Nigeria. To allay the fear of the people, therefore, the command has re-strategised to provide watertight security for all law-abiding residents of the State.”
He added: “The Commissioner of Police has given a standing order to all field commanders, tactical unit commanders and other uniformed and plain-clothed police officers to intensify visibility policing, vehicular patrol as well as an intelligence-driven raid of all flashpoints/black spots and identified criminal hideouts to smoke out men of the underworld hibernating in them.
“The CP also wishes to state that the police command is conscious of its statutory duties of protecting lives and property among other duties, and would not for any reason or at any time abdicate these important duties.
“While still pleading with members of the public to believe in police’s ability to protect them at all times, the Commissioner of Police once again solicits the support of the public, sister agencies and other strategic partners by giving prompt but actionable intelligence that would further decimate criminal elements and their nefarious activities in the state.”
Eons Intelligence, the private security outfit, in their latest which posts regular updates on the security situation in the state, has come out with fresh warning and red flags. In the latest advisory released on social media to residents in the state, said
“Situational and personal awareness and high level of alertness is very strongly advised. When driving in Lagos traffic, keep your windows up and doors locked. Do not pick or stop to talk to strangers. If you must ask for directions, enter a secure public place to ask, e.g., fuel station or shopping mall. Alternatively, use Google Maps to get directions.”
A security expert, Dipo Kehinde, said many factors are responsible for the rise in kidnapping in the state.
Kehinde said: “Entering into the ember months, under a harsh economic climate and increasing lawlessness, one should expect a spike in the crime rate, especially kidnapping, which is the in-thing in Lagos, Nigeria’s leading urban centre, commercial nerve-centre and economic honey pot.
“It is the largest city in Sub-Saharan Africa with over 23 million people. The city is a magnetic field attracting a vast multitude of jobless people from every part of the country without necessary control or documentation.
“The present development is not coming as a surprise to me. But I think the police should take more proactive steps to stem the tide of the rising crime or, better still, nip it in the bud with intelligence-led policing strategies.
“Already, the Lagos State police command has launched the highway patrol units. It is coming a bit late but it is better late than never.”
He, however, advised residents to be more conscious of their security and not leave it alone to the police and other law enforcement agencies.
