We raped journalist, collected N1m ransom ─ Suspected kidnappers

The suspected kidnappers.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers, Bashiru Raji and Christian Jacob, who confessed to have raped a journalist and also collected N1m to release her in one of their operations.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspected kidnappers were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on August 16 in the Egbeda area of Lagos. The police said the time of arrest was about 10am.

Our correspondent gathered that the five-man gang, which the two suspects belonged to, was notorious in the South West for several robbery and kidnapping operations.

It was gathered that the gang had been on the wanted list of the police for some kidnapping operations including one involving a female journalist in 2012.


It was further learnt that the gang, after realising that they were wanted by the police, left the South West and went to Delta State to continue their activities.

According to the police, Raji and Jacob were lured from Delta State to participate in a bank robbery in Lagos, where they were eventually arrested.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, 36-year-old Raji from Odigbo, Ondo State, said they were paid N1m ransom for the journalist, adding that the gang members also raped the woman.

He said, “We are five members of the gang. It was one of my neighbours who introduced me to the gang ─ a boy who usually smoked weeds and Indian hemp. His name is Ebiri. During the kidnap operation of that female journalist, I was the one who drove the vehicle.

“We picked her on the expressway and took her to our hideout. We collected N1m ransom before we released her. We also raped her.

“I did not rape her, but the other gang members raped her. I was given N200,000 for that operation. I don’t know why the gang kidnapped her. The other members initiated the operation, not me.

“I was working as a mechanic initially. Apart from the kidnapping of the female journalist, we carried out other operations. We knew we were wanted by the police. That was why we went to Delta State. It was while in Delta that we were called that there was work for us in Lagos. When we arrived in Lagos, we were arrested.”

Raji, who is married with seven children, added that the person who called them had claimed they would rob a Mallam who had dollars in Lagos and also participate in a bank robbery operation.

For 35-year-old Jacob who hails from Nkerefi, Enugu State, a friend had invited him to participate in kidnapping the female journalist, and he had been given N10,000 in the operation.

He said, “I was a trader in Oshodi Market, Akure. I was selling foodstuffs. One of my friends at that time called me to participate in the kidnapping of the woman. I was given only N10,000.


“But apart from foodstuffs, I also have a weeds farm. I sell the weeds mostly to big buyers from the northern part of the country. I have been doing weeds farming for about three years. After each harvest, I make about N150,000 from the sale.”

Our correspondent learnt that the former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, AIG Umar Manko, had directed the Commander of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, to get the suspected kidnappers