Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohimi has paraded suspected persons arrested by the police in the State for allegedly attempting to assasinate a sixty-year-old woman, Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon, an indigene of Benin City, Edo State.
The suspects have allegedly confessed that they were contracted to kill the woman by her younger sister who was based in London, and that they were given part-payment of five hundred thousand naira, leaving a balance of four million, five hundred thousand naira.
Imohimi said the crux of the matter was a case of human trafficking that gone awry, saying to make it clearer, Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon and Augusta were siblings, the eldest in the family being Gladys.
However, a time came when Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon begged her younger sister, Augusta Osaigbovo to take her daughter, Mercy Omon overseas for better life. She obliged and took Mercy to the UK.
While at the UK, it dawned on her that her Aunty, Augusta, is a leader of a prostitution ring and indeed, had recruited her into prostitution in London.
She refused to submit herself for the illicit trade prompting Augusta to give her up to police authorities in the UK. Somehow, Mercy Omon wriggled out of the trouble and convinced the UK police that her travail was caused by Augusta who brought her to London with job promises unknown to her that she had ulterior motives. The police now turned against Augusta and jailed her.
When Augusta Osaigbovo finished her jail term, she complained to her sister Gladys, that her daughter, Mercy, whom she brought from the village to help, has ruined her. Feeling that her sister was supporting her daughter she decided to procure assassins to eliminate her in revenge.
When the DPO, Igando, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, got a whiff of the plans to kill Gladys, he planted two agents provocateurs namely, Igbinedion Ogbevon ‘m’ and Success Ehiosun ‘m’ to play along with the hired assassins. The gang assembled and were paid the sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) by Augusta Osaigbovo as a mobilization for the job. The names of the assassins are: Osaro Okonobom ‘m’; and Lucky Oboh.
Together they went to Benin-City in Edo State and identified their target, Gladys Osaigbovo, after which they returned to Lagos and requested Augusta to give them the balance of four million Naira (N4,500,000). It was at this stage that they were rounded up. The case is still under investigation and suspects will be charged to court soonest.
The Lagos State police boss, said he had contacted the International Police (Interpol) to wade into the matter and repatriate Augusta to Nigeria for prosecution.
“i am proud of Mercy who stood her ground and refused to do join the band wagons, and as usual, i furthevermore advise parents to be careful when people offer to take their children to abroad for jobs as they may be forced into prostitution or other illicit crimes” He said.
In addition, the Police has arrested two men who allegedly defrauded three victims of six million, five hundred thousand naira with a promise to double their money.
According the Police Commissioner, who confirmed the arrest while presenting the suspects to journalists in Lagos, the police acted on information by members of the public on the activities of the suspects before effecting the arrest.
“police got information about some group of persons going round the metropolis, defrauding innocent citizens of their hard-earned money and promising to double their money through spiritual means. Based on the information, operatives from FSARS Ikeja and the Command’s operatives swung into action and arrested two suspected fraudsters at Nglasia Hotel, Ilasa, Lagos”.
They were immediately searched and in the process, the following exhibits were recovered from them: Two (2) gallons of liquid labeled “Solen point”; A cash tank of US Dollars suspected to be fake; and Platinum Brokers International Incorporation documents.
During interrogation, they confessed to have committed the crime and added that they are professional dupes. That once they are able to bring out the greed in any person, he becomes an easy prey.
It was discovered that the suspects have so far defrauded one Victoria Awoniyi ‘f’ off the sum of five million, seven hundred thousand Naira (N5,700,000); Taiwo Kayode ‘f’ off the sum of three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) and Adebisi Adebayo ‘m’ off the sum of five hundred thousand Naira only (N500,000).
Also, the command paraded suspects numbering five namely Igwe Nchoeu ‘M: 48 years, Moses Eghaghe ‘M’ 51 years, Suleman Aremu ‘M’ 65 years, Obinna Abiodun ‘M’ 40 years, Samuel Ogujiofor ‘M’ 34 years who were arrested by the command Intelligence Unit who came up with information that an unspecified number of air-conditioners believed to be stolen from its owner, are being off loaded in to a warehouse at Iyana-Ira area of Lagos State.
The Intelligence gathered was subsequently passed to FSARS Operatives for action. They went to Iyana-Ira, located the warehouse and arrested the following persons:
The warehouse where the air-conditioners were kept was immediately searched and a total of two hundred and thirty eight (238) pieces of Royal Air-Conditioner products were recovered.
During interrogation, they confessed that they stole the goods and mentioned one Francis ‘M’ as their ring leader and the owner of the truck used in conveying the stolen items.
In the course of investigation, the operatives went to Sango Otta and recovered the said vehicle, a Mack truck, unregistered, where it was parked for sale.
lmohimi paraded eight suspects arrested for conspiracy and armed robbery after the command received information from a credible source that some dare devil armed robbers invaded plot D50, Royal Garden Estate, Ajah, Lagos and held the occupants of a storey building hostage and dispossessed them at gun point. The valve of properties robbed is estimated at fifteen million Naira.
On receipt of the information Operatives of the FSARS and that of the command mobilized quickly to the scene. On sighting the operatives, the robbers took to their heels but luck ran against Joseph Paul Aji ‘M’ and Ekpemandu Kingsley ‘M’ as they were arrested at the scene.
All the stolen items including their operational motorcycle, a Sinoki Supra motorcycle, Reg. No. KJA 342 QH were recovered at the scene.
During interrogation, they confessed to the crime and led operatives to their hideout where other members of the gang were arrested.
Their names are: Abraham Emmanuel a.k.a Turkey ‘M’ 47 years, Joseph Paul Aji ‘M’ 30 years, Nattaaniel Emmanuel a.k.a Nath 22years, Samuel Gabriel ‘M’ 20years, Ekpemandu Kingsley ‘M’ 22years, Adamu Salisu ‘M’ 24years, Abdulazeez Garba 36 years, Mahmud Usman 36 years.
Exhibits recovered from them include; One cut to size locally made single barrel gun; One live cartridge; One plier; Army camouflage T-shirt and cap; A pair of Military boot; Assorted charms; and Sinoki Supra Motocycle, Reg.No KJA-342-QA.