Kunle Adelabu
-Lagos, Ogun Police Commands working together to checkmate kidnapping, other crimes on borders – Lagos PPRO
The kidnapping and subsequent release of the Ikorodu – born businessman and socialite, Alhaji Lookman Onabanjo, has once again brought to the front burner the level of insecurity in every part of the country as criminal elements operate unhindered with little or no check on their activities.
Alhaji Onabanjo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Bugon Petroleum and popular developer, was kidnapped by armed men between 10.00 and 11.00am on Monday, March 8, 2021, at the gate of his farm in Ogun State and released around 10.00pm on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, after a ransom was paid.
Sources said that the kidnappers were many and are mixed tribes – Fulani/Hausa and non – Fulanis. According to the sources, while the Fulanis among the kidnappers speak their language, others speak broken English.
Contrary to the initial report that the farm where Alhaji Onabanjo, popularly called ‘Bugon’, was kidnapped is located in Imota or Agbowa, it has been confirmed that the farm is located at Odoselu in Odogbolu Local Government, Ogun State, Southwest, Nigeria.
This axis including parts of the Ikorodu Division, THE IMPACT gathered, has been den of kidnappers as about three cases of kidnapping had taken place there about two weeks before Alhaji Onabanjo’s incident. Some of their victims were said to be prominent persons who also own farms in this axis.
It was also gathered that another farm owner was also kidnapped on Thursday, a day after Bugon was released.
At first, it was gathered that the kidnappers demanded for 200 million naira which was later reduced to N100million after Bugon’s sister, whom they called, told them that they cannot afford to pay such a huge amount of money.
Family and other sources said that the businessman was maltreated, starved and beaten while his family, friends and associates were busy raising money for his release.
It was also reported that Bugon was kept in a hole without food except dirty water for the three days that he was in the kidnappers’ custody.
The source also said that Alhaji Onabanjo had to identify himself as Bugon to stop the kidnappers from torturing the guy that was kidnapped alongside with him, a situation which made some people to believe that he was targeted.
THE IMPACT gathered from reliable sources that staff at Bugon’s farm had received a call that they should open the farm gate for their boss on the day the incident occurred.
According to the sources, the staff, on their way to the gate, heard several gunshots and on getting to the gate, they met Alhaji Onabanjo’s black van with all its doors opened and without any occupant.
“His staff actually received a call that they should come to the farm’s gate and open it for their boss. Bugon’s farm is actually a big farm with several sections. On their way to the gate, they heard gunshots and on getting there, it was only Bugon’s black van that they saw with the doors opened” the source said.
“He has been kidnapped at gunpoint and taken into the thick forest alongside his driver and three other persons that were with him in the car”, the source said.
It was gathered that his farm manager reported the case at the palace of the traditional ruler of Odoselu and also at the police station in Odogbolu.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the three other persons kidnapped alongside Bugon and his driver, were released later on Monday while the kidnappers held on to Bugon and his driver inside their camp reportedly located inside thick forest.
The source also told THE IMPACT that a jeep was seen parked near Bugon’s farm earlier before he was kidnapped.
It was also gathered that traditional rulers in Ikorodu were also informed about the unfortunate development that troubled the Onabanjo’s family.
Mrs Adesola Onabanjo, Bugon’s eldest sister who spoke with THE IMPACT on Thursday (yesterday), narrated how his brother was kidnapped and added that the matter was later reported at the Area Command in Shagamu.
“After the incident, the manager was asked to report the matter at the police station, Area Command in Shagamu and Elewe Eran (Special Anti –Crime Unit) in Ogun State.
“We learnt that police came to the farm to investigate but they said that it was not their jurisdiction.
“Unfortunately, we do not know why the Lagos Police Command is claiming that the family is not responsive. They did not make any contact with us” she said.
She said that Bugon’s ex – wife who is based in America, was able to get in touch with the Aare Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams who in turn got in touch with traditional rulers, OPC functionaries and others who all went in search of Alhaji Onabanjo.
She added that the kidnappers got in touch with her the next day of the kidnap to make their demand.
“They (kidnappers) got in touch with the family on Tuesday evening and told me that if I love my brother that I should go and get money to secure his freedom.
“They actually demanded for 200 Million naira but I did not know where I got the energy to say that we cannot afford that huge sum. They later asked us to pay 100 Million naira for his release. They said that they will get in touch at 10.00am the next day (Wednesday, March 10) and the phone went off”, Mrs Onabanjo said.
It was gathered that the family was able to make strategic contacts in negotiating and dealing with the situation. They also succeeded in raising substantial amount of money to begin the bargaining when the kidnappers called back to know if the money was available.
Members of Bugon’s family as well as in – laws, friends, associates and concerned residents were seen gathered at his main office along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ota –Ona in Ikorodu on Wednesday while family representatives were busy negotiating with the kidnappers.
“They called back around 4.45pm on Wednesday to know if we have been able to raise the money an there was a very long call which went off intermittently. At that point, I knew that we were getting to the end of the bargain”, she said.
“Bugon too was allowed to call to ask us if we have arranged the money and I was able to speak with him and let him know the situation and the phone went off. When they called back, we were told to meet them somewhere in Imota where those that went with the cash were led into the bush and eventually released Bugon around 10.00pm”, she added.
It was also gathered that while those that went with the ransom were on their way to the meeting in Imota, the kidnappers called again and demanded that they should go back to get them N5000 worth of suya (roasted meat), cigarettes worth of N5000 and N300 cooked rice which were all provided.
It was also gathered that Otunba Adewale Alade Lawal, the head of the Eyo Oniko of Lagos and the owner of Masbat De – Kings Hotel and one other man took the ransom to the kidnappers and secured the release of the businessman in the thick forest.
To ensure that the meal and beef were not poisoned, the kidnappers, THE IMPACT gathered, asked their victims to have a taste before they were released.
At the kidnappers’ den, it was gathered that those involved in the criminal act are many and that they operate freely in the thick forest.
Mrs Onabanjo, who is still disturbed about the ordeal his brother went through, said that they manhandled his brother with guns and other objects.
“They beat him and used their gun to smash his head. I can hear his voice during conversations with his kidnappers”, she said with great discomfort.
“He was kept in a hole where they used to give him the phone whenever they called.
“I saw him immediately he was released and found out that his spark has gone. He’s a strong man but now weakened due to the ordeal and unfortunate experience he had to endure”, she said.
Mrs Adesola Onabanjo, while appreciating members of the public for their support and concerns, took out time to also thank the Redeemed Church of God and Muslim community that embarked on special prayers for her brother’s safe return.
She, however, said that members of the public should take their own security seriously and should not rely on the government or police.
“To the people, I advise them not to rely on the government and police. They are very useless”, she said.
“We are our own government in this country. We take care of our water, electricity, education and everything else while the government does nothing.
“We are living in a failed state. Police are simply extortionists in uniform”, Mrs Onabanjo alleged.
“People should be safe and vigilant at all times” she advised.
The victim, we gathered is still in an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
In a phone conversation with Olayinka Adejobi, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Friday, on the spate of kidnapping cases in Ikorodu and Ogun towns, he said that the Lagos and Ogun States Police Commands are working together to stem the trend.
He also confirmed that the kidnapping of the Ikorodu – born businessman, Alhaji Lookman Onabanjo, happened in a town in Ogun State which shares a border with the Ikorodu Division.
“Lagos and Ogun States Police Commands are working together to checkmate any criminal activity in and around the Ikorodu and Agbowa axis of the state, especially the areas that share borders with Ogun State.
“We heard about the incident (kidnapping of Alhaji Onabanjo) in Ikorodu axis. The incident that you are referring to actually happened in an Ogun community and not Lagos. Though, it is close to Ikorodu axis and we cannot ignore such criminal activity in Lagos.
“Apart from this axis, the Lagos CP has reached out to his Ogun State counterpart to ensure that all the borders towns including Iju, Abule – Egba, Ogijo and Agbowa among others are well secured and are not allowed to be used in perpetrating crimes”, he assured Lagosians.
“We are working towards ensuring that some elements are prevented from committing any criminal activity in Ogun and run into Lagos or commit such in Lagos and run into Ogun State.
“What we are doing now is to restrategise in checkmating the criminal activities”, Officer Adejobi told THE IMPACT.
