Police Uncover K!dnappers’ D£n Disguised as Shr!ne in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a kidnappers’ den disguised as a shrine at the Isheri/Idimu area of the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, following an intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of key members of the gang.

Speaking while leading journalists to the location, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, said the arrests followed sustained stop-and-search and intelligence-driven operations carried out by police operatives in the early hours of Sunday.

“In the early hours of yesterday, at about 2:00 a.m., our operatives intercepted three initial suspects at the Bode Thomas–Studio area while they were operating in a vehicle allegedly used to pick unsuspecting members of the public, especially during late nights and early hours of the morning,” Jimoh said.

According to the police commissioner, investigations revealed that the gang was led by Demola Ade Lua and operated a well-coordinated syndicate that used deception, fraud and abduction to extort victims.
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“The syndicate at times lured their victims under the pretense of selling dollars or offering fake investment schemes that promised to double money,” he explained. “If victims cooperated and were successfully defrauded, they were allowed to go. However, if they resisted or became suspicious, they were detained at the shrine and their families contacted with claims that they had been kidnapped.”

Jimoh disclosed that the criminal gang operated with at least six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna bus, which was commonly used to pick up victims from bus stops and other locations across the state.

“This vehicle you are seeing here is one of their operational vehicles. We are currently looking for five additional vehicles because investigations show that the gang operated a total of six vehicles,” he said.

The commissioner assured residents that the Lagos State Police Command remains firmly in control of the security situation in the state.

“We want to assure Lagosians that the command is on top of the security situation. Investigations will be extended, including tracking suspects who come from neighboring states to commit crimes in Lagos,” CP Jimoh added.

Police investigations into the activities of the syndicate are ongoing, as efforts continue to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional operational assets.