File image of Police Officers on duty
Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 60-year-old Ifa chief priestess and her two sons for reports of kidnap cases in the state.
The spokesman for the command, CSP Chike Oti, made the development known in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.
He stated that the woman was said to be a chief priestess and custodian of an Ifa shrine.
She was alleged to be aiding her sons, aged 26 and 32, who allegedly lure their victims with charms to their home.
He stated that they used the social media to lure their victims and put them in captivity until they paid ransoms for their release.
“The trio met their waterloo when one Bridget Obazee came to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Igando Police Station, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, on Sept. 7 and complained that her brother, Osahon, was missing.
“The complait told the DPO that the kidnappers were threatening to kill Osahon if they (family) failed to pay N1.5 million ransom.
“She added that they warned her not to involve the police, otherwise her brother would be killed.”
Oti stated that the DPO quickly contacted the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who deployed men from the Intelligence Unit of the command to reinforce the DPO’s team.
“The same day, at about 11a.m., through discreet investigation, the team arrested the woman and her sons, Akeem Bashiru and Ojo Solomon,” he said.
He stated that besides Osahon, the police also rescued two other victims in the home of the suspects, which doubled as their hideout.
“the victims have been held for weeks, pending the payment of ransom by their families.”
He stated that those rescued had been re-united with their relations.
He stated that during interrogation, Solomon confessed that he lured the victims with the promise of getting them employment.
“He further confessed that he lured some victims for a gay relationship and that their mother empowered him and his brother spiritually,” Oti said.