Kidnappers’ den: ‘Mad’ woman arrested with phones, ATM card
Two of the suspects , a woman and a man , allegedly disguised as mentally- challenged persons , but the latter was said to have later confessed to being a member of a kidnap gang .
PUNCH Metro reported that three phones, an Automated Teller Machine card and two loaves of bread , were recovered in a bag found with the woman , while the man had some clothes in his bag.
It had been reported that the den , an uncompleted building, was uncovered around 8am on Tuesday after a highway sweeper with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency alerted residents to the voice of a distressed woman in a drainage channel in the area .
Our correspondent reported that a crowd gathered around the two ends of the drains during which five persons came out through the channel .
Two of them were set ablaze by a mob , while three others were rescued by the police.
Clothes , slippers and bags believed to be effects of abductees , were found in the building.
But the state Commissioner of Police , Fatai Owoseni , said it was too early to tag the building a kidnappers ’ hideout , adding that “scientific investigations ” would be carried out on the items.
PUNCH Metro reported that around 10 pm on Tuesday , the police succeeded in dispersing the crowd, which resumed in the early hours of Wednesday .
A resident , Bolaji Adams , told our correspondent at the scene that a mad woman was seen moving towards the drains at about 11 am and people confronted her.
He said , “The woman should be in her 40s . She wore tattered clothes and had a bag . We saw her going towards the drainage channel . When we checked the bag, we found two loaves of bread , some pieces of fish , three phones and an ATM card .
“ People did not even listen to her; they started beating her. Policemen intervened and she was rescued . ”
Another eyewitness , Oluwaseun Aluko , corroborated Adams ’ statement , adding that a man wearing wigs was caught about 30 minutes later .
Aluko said , “ In my observation , the woman was taking the food to other members of the gang. What is a ‘ mad ’ woman doing with three phones? As we continued to watch, the man suddenly appeared around the drainage channel . Some people confronted him , but he was talking incoherently . We saw some clothes and used exercise books in his load . We decided to let him go . ”
Aluko said as the man was going , somebody charged the crowd that he should be interrogated further on the contents of the load .
“ Lo and behold , we removed the wigs he wore and saw his natural hair. As we wanted to beat him , he confessed that he was a member of the gang . He made the confession in the presence of policemen , who took him away .
“ There are still many suspects lurking around the drain and we won ’ t leave until they are all apprehended . After all , one of the suspects arrested yesterday (Tuesday ) said they were more than 20, ” he added .
A trader and resident , Abiodun Moshood , said a man , who identified himself as a carrier , was nabbed around 11 pm on Tuesday , adding that the man , who wore only underwear, claimed to have come from the Abule Egba area to buy food .
Our correspondent observed as policemen and men of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps struggled to disperse the crowd.
The angry crowd hauled stones at the security agents , who responded by firing tear gas canisters at them .
The incident was followed by an orgy of arrests , while most of the persons apprehended protested that they were passersby .
“ Some people are ready to go into the drains . The police did not allow them and they are afraid to go inside . They (policemen ) should go and arrest the real suspects , ” a resident , Stephen Cornellius , said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Olarinde Famous - Cole , said the police had already commenced investigations into the matter .
He promised to get back on the arrests .
Punchng
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