Two suspects in monarch's kidnap, arrested

Officers of the Lagos State police command have reportedly apprehended two of the kidnappers suspected to be behind the abduction of the Oniba of Iba Community.

ALSO READ: Family of kidnapped monarch holds prayer session for his release

The suspects are reported to have been paraded at the State House in Ikeja, Lagos State today, July 7, 2016.

The suspects have been identified as Toba Forejo and Isaiah Ododomu, from Ondo State.

The monarch, Oba Goriola Oseni, was released after weeks in the hands of his abductors, yesterday, July 6, 2016, following the payment of the ransom fee.

PM News reports that one of the suspects had confessed the means by which they successfully kidnapped the monarch, extorting the sum of N15.1 million ransom before they released him.

Speaking with reporters, the suspect disclosed that nine people had shown up at the palace on that fateful day, to kidnap the monarch. He went on to identify some of the suspects who are yet to be apprehended as Toba, Igodo, Mighty, Folly and Sam, while their leader, Micah had not been with them at the time.

Narrating his story, Ododomu said:

“I am a bunkering man, when this government stopped the bunkering business, our leaders formed another group and we started kidnapping to manage ourselves. I am a married man and I don’t have any job to cater for my family. When we started the kidnapping business, whenever they collected N500,000, they will give me N20,000.

“After this one, Toba, Igodo, Mighty, these eight people, went to Iba junction, they kidnapped the king, after they kidnapped him, they demand for N500 million, after that they reduced it to N40 million. They gave them N12 million at the first time. After that we gathered and shared the money.

“All our senior people got the lion share of the money. They gave Toba N1 million, all those Igodo, Micah, they collected N2.5 million and so on; for me, they gave me N100, 000."

He further disclosed his role as the voice of reason among the bunch.

“I told them that we should collect any amount and decamp because they can arrest us. Because of me, they agreed to collect N3, 100,000. The family of the oba the money and they dropped it for us at water side. We went there and brought the money and they gave me N100,000. Toba and the others shared the remaining money. Our base of operation is at Izegemo creek in Ikotun area."

ALSO READ: Monarch's kidnappers demand N500m ransom

Ododomu also revealed that he had been responsible for paddling the Oba to safety while the others went their way, which ultimately led to his arrest. Ferejo revealed that he was arrested at Iyana School area of Lagos State.