MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Frank Oshanugor
A mild drama played out on Thursday at the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos when two young lovers accused each other of being the master-mind of a feigned kidnap for ransom attempt involving the female partner.
The lovers, 24-year-old Isaac Gabriel from Benue State and his older partner, Ruth Livinus (27 years) from Kaduna State, both residing in Lagos were among 21 other suspects arrested and paraded by the police for allegedly involving in various crimes.
Speaking with journalists during the parade, Gabriel who identified Ruth Livinus as his girlfriend said the idea of the kidnap for ransom was initiated by Ruth. According to him, Ruth had been living with him in his apartment and a few weeks ago, she hinted of the need to raise capital to begin her hair dressing business.
Since he could not afford anything financially, he suggested to Ruth if she could feign sickness and send distress message to her mother through her brother who was living with them in Gabriel’s apartment. He contended that Ruth objected to his suggestion claiming that not much would come out of it as the mother was indigent.
Gabriel said that Ruth in turn suggested she should be “kidnapped” and once her mother heard of it, she would be forced to sell her land and pay the ransom. He added that Ruth brought the self kidnap attempt to the fore as she claimed that despite remitting her earnings as sales girl to the mother, her mother had refused to assist her in anyway, since she had lost her father.
The Benue indigene who identified himself as a digital marketer with school certificate as his highest qualification claimed that his lover Ruth Livinus wanted the kidnap for ransom as a revenge against her mother for not assisting in times of need.
Twenty seven year-old Ruth Livinus while reacting to statements made by Gabriel, told journalists that in the first place, she was not a lover to Gabriel, but that they happened to know through her cousin.
She claimed that when she came in contact with Gabriel a few years ago, the idea of engaging in self kidnap came from him when she told him that she urgently needed money to begin her hair dressing business. “I consented to the kidnap initiative because I know I would get money from my mother” she explained.
While expressing regret for involving in such a heinous act, Ruth admitted having collected only N50,000 ransom so far before detectives tracked the gang.
Earlier at the parade, the Zone 2 Command’s Public Relations Officer, Umma Ayuba, a Superintendent of Police who stood in, for the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Zone, Olatoye Durosinmi, told journalists that a total of 23 suspects; 21 of whom were Male and 2 female involved with various offences bothering on Criminal Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Breaking & Stealing, Armed Robbery and Adulteration of Pharmaceutical drugs were arrested. Various exhibits were also recovered from the suspects.
On the 1st of June, 2024 Operatives of the Zonal Dragon Squad had arrested one Samson Sesan, an ex- convict who is the principal suspect and kingpin of a robbery gang involved in several robbery incidents around Abeokuta area at Ilaro, Ogun State.
While conducting search at his apartment, One (1) Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol, One (1) Locally Made Single Barrel Pistol and Ten (10) Live Cartridges were recovered. Upon interrogation, other suspects were arrested and more exhibits recovered.
In the same vein, a case of Kidnapping was reported to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command Headquarters by one Jona Jumai a female, that sometimes in the month of May, 2024 her sister one Ruth Livinus who works as a domestic staff in Ajah Area of Lagos went missing and few days later the family members were contacted via a strange telephone number that Ruth Livinus has been kidnapped and in custody of the kidnappers who demanded Five Million Naira (N5,000,000:00) Ransom be paid into a designated account.
According to Ayuba, the suspects were trailed and arrested in their hideout in Ikorodu Area of Lagos by Operatives of the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit led by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi.
Investigation revealed that it was the purported kidnap-victim Ruth Livinus, her boyfriend Isaac Gabriel and one Jeremiah Boniface (her cousin) who pre-arranged the kidnap to extort monies from her employer and family members.
In another development, one Dennis Ebeze who was a domestic staff (Chef) at the time was alleged of breaking and stealing of jewelries and other valuables worth over Forty Million Naira (N40,000,000:00) in a petition received from one Dr. Ademola Oyewusi sometimes in August 2023.
The suspect was eventually arrested somewhere in Makurdi, Benue State through a technology driven investigation by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi and team.
He confessed to have sold the stolen items to one Mutairu Yakubu for a sum of Seven Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N7,400,000:00) before he absconded to his hometown in Cross-River State.
Similarly, a petition filed by one Walter Anyaoha, the Managing Director of Wihyaland Pharmaceutical Limited in which he alleged that his trainee one Chisom Ndukwu, a male who has been living with him suddenly left the house to an unknown place, and when he checked his shop he realized that Four (4) Cartons of JVI drug valued Nine Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,600,000:00) were also missing in the shop.
Investigation into the allegation by CSP Omotayo Adegbite Officer in charge of Zonal Anti-Crime Unit led to the arrest of the suspect in company of his accomplice one Mark Chukwuemeka Ambush who is into production of Adulterated Cough Syrups.
Upon search conducted in the houses and premises of the suspects, Bags containing packs with inscription of DSP CODIENE COUGH SYRUPS and empty Bottles & Covers of cough syrups were recovered. Suspects admitted to the crime with one Kosi, a male who is currently at large.
The police spokesperson said investigation was ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to arrest fleeing suspects.
“Meanwhile updates will be provided to members of the public and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly upon completion of investigations” she added
