Operatives of the Inspector- General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have arrested a 28-year-old man, Ikechukwu Daniel, suspected to be a member of a notorious kidnapping gang terrorizing the South Western part of the country.
During the week, IRT operatives who were acting on a directive by the Acting IGP, Ibrahim Idris, arrested one Mohammed Babuga, who provided information that aided the operatives in trailing Daniel, popularly known as ‘Ike’, to his hideout in Festac Area of Lagos State.
Daniel allegedly masterminded the April 27, 2016, abduction of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo in Ogun State.
He also disclosed that his gang hatched a plan to kidnap billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, but the plot was foiled by the police.
He narrated that they missed him once when he attended a function at Ibadan Oyo State, due to heavy presence of security operatives, but they decided to take a little time and prepare properly for the operation
Daniel said; “There was someone working with Otedola who brought the kidnapping job to us and the person told us that he was going to be in Ibadan. When we went, we saw that there was heavy security presence around him and I told my gang members that we must wait and plan very well before carrying out the operation.
“I told them that the first thing I would do to ensure the success of the operation was to do spiritual sacrifice to the gods and ensure that I defeat them spiritually before going for him. You know a man like Otedola, is powerful spiritually. Then, the next step was to ensure that we get army, DSS and police uniforms. I realized without impersonation, there was no way I would be able to go close to a man of such statute.
“Our last plan was to ensure that we monitor his movements regularly through our contact which is that person close to him and we would strike on a day that he has very little security men around me. I would have achieved all this by November and if we had succeeded, it was going to be my last job as I would have demanded N2billion and I was hopeful he will pay me nothing less than N500 million.”