Driver arrested over abduction of self, maid, 10-year-old boy

By Christopher Oji

A driver, Kwasi Samuel, 64, has been arrested for masterminding the kidnapping of a 10-year-old son of his employer.

Samuel allegedly arranged his kidnap, that of a house help and the minor he was assigned to take to the school. He and two others; Unnachukwu Monday, 24, and Freeman Ekapebo, 23, were arrested by the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.

The police said the driver and his gang had started demanding a ransom of N150 million before the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olatoye A. Durosinmi, ordered the officer in charge of the Command’s Monitoring Unit to go after the kidnappers.

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), SP Ayuba T. Umma, who made the disclosure, said: “On March 26, 2024, at about 6am, a resident of Millionaire Estate, Oniru, reported the kidnap of her 10-year-old son and  maid (names withheld for security reasons) and driver, Mr. Samuel Kwasi, at the Ikoyi area of Lagos. She further revealed that the kidnappers demanded N150, 000,000:00k ransom.

“Acting on this intelligence, a team of detectives led by CSP Tijjani Taofiq, Officer-in-Charge of the Zonal Monitoring Unit, acted swiftly utilising advanced tracking techniques and intelligence gathering.

“The team pinpointed the kidnappers’ hideout in the Aiyetoro area of Ijanikin, Badagry road, Lagos.

“On March 28, 2024, at approximately 3:40pm, officers raided the hideout at Cozzy Hotel, Ijanikin where one of the suspects, Nnachukwu Monday, was arrested and the victims rescued unharmed.

“In a coordinated operation, Mr. Samuel Kwasi, the driver and one Freeman Ekpebo were apprehended at Sun Era Hotel, Ijanikin, where they were allegedly waiting to receive the ransom.  Investigation revealed that Kwasi was the principal suspect and mastermind of the kidnap. Mr. Kwasi, 64, has confessed to demobilising the car’s tracking device before the kidnap operation. Meanwhile, the car’s tracking device and a knife were recovered from the Sun Era Hotel room, Ijanikin, where the suspects lodged.

“While commending the police officers for their swift response, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi appreciates the community for their cooperation and vigilance. He also urges parents and guardians to be cautious and conduct thorough background checks when employing domestic staff. The Zone 2 Police Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Lagos and Ogun States”.