They were
very youthful and innocent looking when Saturday Independent had an interview
with them at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police
Command, but investigations and their confessions revealed that they are deadly
and without mercy when they operate.
Incidentally,
one of them and the gang leader, Livinus Ubakah, happens to be a son of a
former Inspector of Police who was dismissed by the police authorities for
anti-force activities. But,
the son took to a more illegal means of earning a living.
Speaking
on the alleged kidnappers, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer,
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ngozi Braide, who narrated the
activities of the notorious gang in the state, revealed that the SARS led
by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), after a careful search for the
criminals, arrested the trio of Kelechukwu Onyema, 27; Livinus Ubaka,
the 25 year-old-son of the dismissed cop and Ayebe Segun, 32.
one of them and the gang leader, Livinus Ubakah, happens to be a son of a
former Inspector of Police who was dismissed by the police authorities for
anti-force activities. But,
the son took to a more illegal means of earning a living.
Speaking
on the alleged kidnappers, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer,
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ngozi Braide, who narrated the
activities of the notorious gang in the state, revealed that the SARS led
by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), after a careful search for the
criminals, arrested the trio of Kelechukwu Onyema, 27; Livinus Ubaka,
the 25 year-old-son of the dismissed cop and Ayebe Segun, 32.
They
were arrested at Ajao Estate area of the state.
were arrested at Ajao Estate area of the state.
The
suspects, according to Braid, kidnapped one Yahaya Aminu, a staff of Dangote
Group, Head Office, Falomo Ikoyi, at Guarante Trust Bank (GTB), Awolowo Road,
lkoyi, on September 2, 2012.
suspects, according to Braid, kidnapped one Yahaya Aminu, a staff of Dangote
Group, Head Office, Falomo Ikoyi, at Guarante Trust Bank (GTB), Awolowo Road,
lkoyi, on September 2, 2012.
The
victim is said to be a cousin to the business mogul, Aliko Dangote.
victim is said to be a cousin to the business mogul, Aliko Dangote.
Braide
said the victim was rescued alive while two locally made pistols with 16
cartridges and one Kia Cerato Saloon Car with Reg. No. DN 735 APP belonging to
the victim were recovered from the kidnappers by the SARS team.
said the victim was rescued alive while two locally made pistols with 16
cartridges and one Kia Cerato Saloon Car with Reg. No. DN 735 APP belonging to
the victim were recovered from the kidnappers by the SARS team.
“It
is noteworthy to state that on February 17, 2012, about 2230hrs at Oniru
Estate, Lagos, the same Pius Ubaka with others at large were responsible for
the kidnapping of Debasis Mitraroy, another employee of Dangote Group of
Companies.
is noteworthy to state that on February 17, 2012, about 2230hrs at Oniru
Estate, Lagos, the same Pius Ubaka with others at large were responsible for
the kidnapping of Debasis Mitraroy, another employee of Dangote Group of
Companies.
“The
suspect was eventually arrested and charged to Magistrate Court 17, PWD,
Ikeja, presided over by Magistrate A.O. Akinde for conspiracy and
kidnapping through charge No. MIK/R/42/2012 on April 5,2002, but was
strangely released in June 2012 by the court from where he immediately went
back to his kidnapping business,” Braide said.
suspect was eventually arrested and charged to Magistrate Court 17, PWD,
Ikeja, presided over by Magistrate A.O. Akinde for conspiracy and
kidnapping through charge No. MIK/R/42/2012 on April 5,2002, but was
strangely released in June 2012 by the court from where he immediately went
back to his kidnapping business,” Braide said.
She
added that in March 2011, Ubaka led a gang of four kidnappers who kidnapped one
Indian man at Victoria Island and collected N32million.
added that in March 2011, Ubaka led a gang of four kidnappers who kidnapped one
Indian man at Victoria Island and collected N32million.
As
a result, his gang member, William Bassey, was arrested and subsequently charged
to court.
a result, his gang member, William Bassey, was arrested and subsequently charged
to court.
Following
the kidnap, investigation revealed that Bassey was arrested, but Ubakah and two
others escaped.
the kidnap, investigation revealed that Bassey was arrested, but Ubakah and two
others escaped.
Police
went on their trail until February this year when the state undercover police
arrested Ubakah, after they kidnapped Dangote staff member.
went on their trail until February this year when the state undercover police
arrested Ubakah, after they kidnapped Dangote staff member.
This
led to his being charged to court in the first instance, but released on bail
by the court while the matter was still pending.
led to his being charged to court in the first instance, but released on bail
by the court while the matter was still pending.
Before
the arrest this time, the kidnappers held their captive in a Hotel at Ajoa
Estate and demanded a ransom of $150,000.
the arrest this time, the kidnappers held their captive in a Hotel at Ajoa
Estate and demanded a ransom of $150,000.
It
was in the process of trying to collect the ransom at Ajah that SARS team
arrested one of the suspects.
was in the process of trying to collect the ransom at Ajah that SARS team
arrested one of the suspects.
The
arrested suspect took the SARS team to Ajao Estate, where the other two were
also arrested and the victim released.
arrested suspect took the SARS team to Ajao Estate, where the other two were
also arrested and the victim released.
It
was gathered that the SARS team had to fight tooth and nail by climbing the
ceiling and Corporal Abdulraham Mohammed who went to the operation with Kyari
had to chase the kidnappers and firing until the ammunition in his pistol was
exhausted, thus prompting him to throw from the top of the roof his empty
pistol to his boss who was on the ground, while his boss, Kyari, in return
threw his pistol loaded with ammunition to him for him to continue firing until
the suspects were arrested.
was gathered that the SARS team had to fight tooth and nail by climbing the
ceiling and Corporal Abdulraham Mohammed who went to the operation with Kyari
had to chase the kidnappers and firing until the ammunition in his pistol was
exhausted, thus prompting him to throw from the top of the roof his empty
pistol to his boss who was on the ground, while his boss, Kyari, in return
threw his pistol loaded with ammunition to him for him to continue firing until
the suspects were arrested.
After
the arrest, we learnt the SARS team invited Ubakah’s father, but he did not
respond during the police investigation.
the arrest, we learnt the SARS team invited Ubakah’s father, but he did not
respond during the police investigation.
He
denied ever seeing his son since he was charged to court, but his son confessed
that he slept in his father’s house a day before his arrest.
denied ever seeing his son since he was charged to court, but his son confessed
that he slept in his father’s house a day before his arrest.
Confessing
about his criminal act, Ubakah a native of Isiala Ngwa in Abia State told
Saturday Independent that he learned Laptop Engineering with an office at 11,
Oba Elegusi International Market, Jakande, Ajah.
about his criminal act, Ubakah a native of Isiala Ngwa in Abia State told
Saturday Independent that he learned Laptop Engineering with an office at 11,
Oba Elegusi International Market, Jakande, Ajah.
His
words: “My father is a dismissed Police Inspector. He served at force
headquarters at Obalende then. He has four children. My friend, Bassey William,
introduced me to kidnapping while I was teaching him how to repair Laptop. He
told me they wanted to Kidnap Indian boy to be kept in my house for ransom. I
agreed, that was how we started kidnapping. The Indian was kidnapped at
Picolomondo Bar/Club in Victoria Island. I was the one who drove that night. We
used my Parthfinder Jeep. I have a jeep, and I was using a Golf car before the
jeep. I also have an Infinity Jeep and two plots of land in Ajah.
words: “My father is a dismissed Police Inspector. He served at force
headquarters at Obalende then. He has four children. My friend, Bassey William,
introduced me to kidnapping while I was teaching him how to repair Laptop. He
told me they wanted to Kidnap Indian boy to be kept in my house for ransom. I
agreed, that was how we started kidnapping. The Indian was kidnapped at
Picolomondo Bar/Club in Victoria Island. I was the one who drove that night. We
used my Parthfinder Jeep. I have a jeep, and I was using a Golf car before the
jeep. I also have an Infinity Jeep and two plots of land in Ajah.
“The
Indian spent a week in my house at Lakwe before a ransom of $200,000 was
paid. We tied his eyes and I was the one staying with him permanently at
home so that neighbours will not suspect if they start seeing strange people.
After the ransom, we paid a cab to drop him at Victoria Island. I got $40,000
as my share. I bought two plots of land and went to Abuja to obtain a visa to
travel to Holland, but I was duped N800, 000. I was angry for that. I was not
always going to my father then because we were not in good terns but I
travelled to Ghana when the police was looking for me and spent some time
before coming back. We kidnapped a Dangote staff; it was in the process of
trying to collect ransom that we were arrested. We were three. We kept the man
for over one week, and he was feeding only on fruits. He said he did not need
food but apple and watermelon.
Indian spent a week in my house at Lakwe before a ransom of $200,000 was
paid. We tied his eyes and I was the one staying with him permanently at
home so that neighbours will not suspect if they start seeing strange people.
After the ransom, we paid a cab to drop him at Victoria Island. I got $40,000
as my share. I bought two plots of land and went to Abuja to obtain a visa to
travel to Holland, but I was duped N800, 000. I was angry for that. I was not
always going to my father then because we were not in good terns but I
travelled to Ghana when the police was looking for me and spent some time
before coming back. We kidnapped a Dangote staff; it was in the process of
trying to collect ransom that we were arrested. We were three. We kept the man
for over one week, and he was feeding only on fruits. He said he did not need
food but apple and watermelon.
“I
was once charged to court for kidnapping at the PWD Magistrate Court. I was
released on bail; my lawyer is Barr. Evans Duru. I was granted bail on June 27.
After the bail, I went back to my father’s house. I became broke and went back
to my gang leader and we started another kidnapping.”
was once charged to court for kidnapping at the PWD Magistrate Court. I was
released on bail; my lawyer is Barr. Evans Duru. I was granted bail on June 27.
After the bail, I went back to my father’s house. I became broke and went back
to my gang leader and we started another kidnapping.”
