The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a hideout disguised as a shrine in the Idimu area of the state, where suspected kidnappers and “one-chance” operators allegedly held victims.
The command also confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects linked to the operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed this on Wednesday while leading journalists on a tour of the premises located along Pipeline Road in the community.
Jimoh said the suspects were members of a notorious syndicate that specialised in defrauding commuters and, in some cases, detaining victims when they resisted being robbed.
He explained that the arrests followed intelligence-driven stop-and-search operations carried out by operatives in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the police boss, three suspects were first intercepted at Bode Thomas in Surulere while operating in a vehicle allegedly used to pick unsuspecting members of the public, particularly at night and in the early hours of the morning.
“The syndicate usually lured victims under the pretence of selling dollars or offering fake investment schemes that promised to double money before taking them to the shrine,” Jimoh said.
He added that the group was allegedly led by one Demola Adelua, who he claimed had operated for over eight years and coordinated multiple teams across the state.
“If victims cooperate and they succeed in defrauding them, they release them.
But if the victim is too smart and refuses to cooperate, they bring the person here, lock them inside this room they call a shrine, and then call their relatives to demand ransom,” the CP added.
Jimoh maintained that Lagos did not record widespread cases of conventional kidnapping, but noted that “one-chance” gangs often escalated into abduction when victims refused to submit to fraud.
He said the syndicate also targeted worshippers heading to churches and mosques early in the morning, taking advantage of low traffic and reduced police presence during such hours.
The commissioner noted that only two formal complaints were initially received, prompting the command to establish tactical stop-and-search points in identified hotspots.
He said the three suspects arrested later led operatives to the gang’s operational base, where weapons and other items were recovered during an on-the-spot search.
Following the discovery, Jimoh said further raids were conducted around the area, leading to the arrest of additional suspects.
He added that the gang operated with at least six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna, and that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining vehicles allegedly used to pick up victims at bus stops and other locations.
During the tour, one of the suspects, Rotimi Adilola, reportedly admitted that the premises served as an operational base for the group.
Another suspect, Amos Ogunna, who claimed responsibility for the shrine, described it as similar to a church, while admitting that the group engaged in fraud.
“This is my shrine. He is my friend. We are local 419. My colleagues bring customers with a motor.
“Sometimes people pay N100,000, sometimes N200,000,” he said.
Emmanuel Njoku, who said he was arrested at Bode Thomas, narrated how victims were allegedly lured.
“We go there to carry people. Somebody will say she has dollars. Anybody who is greedy will ask questions. From there, we interview the person and bring them here,” he said.
Njoku claimed that some victims who refused to cooperate were later released after being given transport fare, but admitted he had been involved in the scheme for about eight years.
A female suspect, Tina Willy, who said she was from Akwa Ibom State, told journalists that she became involved after the death of her husband and confirmed that some victims had been fully abducted after refusing to cooperate.
“I am not working with them steadily. My husband died and I had no money. I met my brother who introduced me to the business,” she said
Another suspect also admitted he had previously been jailed over a fraud-related offence involving N300,000 and spent four months in custody.
Jimoh assured residents that the command was intensifying efforts to dismantle the syndicate completely, including tracking members who allegedly came into Lagos from neighbouring states to carry out criminal activities.
He also announced that the command had strengthened security across the state with the deployment of tactical units, including an undercover “walk-and-operate” squad, a coast drive strike force, and a planned anti-crime patrol and community protection squad.
“I want to assure Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
“Full deployment has been carried out across the nooks and crannies of the state,” the commissioner added.