Police arrest 2 ‘kidnappers’ after ‘rescue’ of Lagos monarch

Following the “safe rescue” of Goriola Yusahu Oseni, the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni, the Lagos state police command has paraded two of the suspected militants who kidnapped the monarch on July 17.

The attackers had invaded Oseni’s palace in Iba local council development area of Lagos, abducting the monarch, shooting one of his wives and killing a guard.

But Oseni was “rescued” on Saturday due to what Fatai Owoseni, state commissioner of olice, described as the “sustained pressure and hot chaise given to the kidnappers”.

Asked if a ransom was paid, Owoseni said: “We have always reiterated that it is not about whether ransom was paid or not. If it is about ransom, suspect will not be arrested.

“What I will say is that the pressure by the Lagos Command and the Special Response Team of the Inspector General of Police from Abuja, the combined efforts and pressure paid off and the most important thing is that Kabiyesi is in his palace.”

Owoseni said the monarch was hale and hearty as of the time of his rescue, and debunked reports that the state government abandoned the monarch to his fate the ordeal.

“As to whether the state government did something or not, if you are seeing suspects being paraded, the security agencies are apparatus of government and that is to say that the government has worked very hard in order to get Kabiyesi liberated,” he said.

“What we want to do is to also thank and appreciate the calmness and the understanding of the family, who, in the process of getting Kabiyesi out of the hands of the kidnappers, have been very cooperative with us.

“No matter the amount of money that is put to fund security, the United States has all it takes, France has all it takes but till tomorrow, you are still hearing of people being killed in Malls or whatever.

“In France, some people went to church to go and kill a priest, so there is no society where you can completely eradicate crime. But for you to know, the logistics and wherewithal that the government has given all the security agencies in the state also contributed to the arrest that has been made.

“All I want to say is that criminals should also know that whatever has been done, they will not go unpunished. As of now, investigation is still on and you can be assured that all the people that took part in that operation will be arrested and they will face the full wrath of the law. We will not reveal much so as not to jeopardize ongoing investigations.”

While being interviewed by journalists, the two arrested suspects said nine people were involved in the operation that led to the kidnap of the monarch.

The two suspects — Isaiah Ododomu and Toba Forejo — said they were involved in illegal oil bunkering but were stopped from the business due to the renewed efforts of government against them, adding that they were arrested on Saturday at Iyana School in Lagos.

“I was involved in illegal bunkering. As this government stopped bunkering, our leaders arranged another group and this mission of the new group was to start kidnapping and use it to manage ourselves since we can’t do oil bunkering again,” Ododomu said.

“I am a married man, I don’t have any job to do. We used to do security for those main guys and anytime they make about N500, 000 they will give us like N20,000.”

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state, said his administration has the capacity and will to fight all forms of crime and criminality.

He said the coordinated onslaught by security agencies against vandals and kidnappers, under the code name ‘Operation Awatse’, would continue until the activities are completely stamped out.

“The kidnap of an Oba in Yorubaland is a sacrilege and a complete desecration of the cultural values of the Yoruba race, which must not go unpunished,” Adeniji Kazeem, attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said on his behalf.

“The arrest of these suspects is a clear warning to criminal elements that we value and cherish our Yoruba tradition and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that it is protected from violation by those who have desecrated our values.

“We are also pleased to announce that two of the kidnappers have been arrested and are here for everybody to see. The kidnappers are also prime suspects in the murder of two persons killed during the kidnap and they will face the full wrath of the law.”