7yrs Old Boy Leads Police To Hideout Of Kidnappers In Lagos

A university graduate and two other suspects were on Wednesday paraded by men of the Lagos State Police Command, following their arrest, by a tip off from a seven-year-old kidnap victim.

Gbenga Sholaja, graduate of Economics of Olabisi Onabanjo University, his accomplices, Olalekan Benjamin and Samson Shomorin, who specialise in kidnapping little kids, were arrested by Policemen from the Igando Police Division and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos.

The brave 7 years old boy was kidnapped by the gang and kept at Olalekan Benjami's father's house in the Ikotun area of Lagos. But the kidnappers didn't know that the small boy was taking mental note.

The boy who was later released after ransom was paid by his parents. He managed to memorised the house address where he was kept. He then led police officers to the same house where Benjamin was arrested.

One of the kidnappers, Sholaja, who wept profusely during an interview with Punch, said he was pushed by unemployment into kidnapping. He said, “I have a Second Class Upper (Division) in Accounting and have completed my National Youth Service Corps programme. I went into kidnapping because since I finished my NYSC in 2011, I have been unable to get a job.”

On his part, Benjamin, an ex-convict, who was remanded in prison for kidnapping three years ago, said he met Sholaja at OOU while he was trying to gain admission into the school.

“I was a casual worker at a factory in 2007 before I was sacked; I earned N300 per day. After staying idle for some months, I met a friend, Muyiwa, we were carriers of frozen fish at Apapa. He introduced me to Taofeeq."

On their mode of operation, Benajmin said they usually kidnap children while on their way to or from school. All suspects were said to have collected a total of N260,000 on two separate occasions, to secure the release of two boys.

Benjamin usually befriended potential victims by buying them biscuits on their way to school, thereby earning their trust.

They jobless youths will however be charged to court for their crimes.