Operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, Adeniji Adele, Lagos, have arrested an upcoming Nollywood actor and gospel musician (names withheld) and two others in connection with the alleged kidnap of a female banker at Mile 2 area of Lagos.
The actor and his alleged partners were said to have kept their victim in an uncompleted building in Mowe, Ogun State for four days, awaiting response from the captives’ family.
They were reportedly caught while sharing the ransom.
Vanguard gathered that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the squad, Mr. Chris Ezike, acting on a tip-off, deployed teams of policemen to the hide-out, where the suspected kidnapers were rounded up and their victim rescued.
Police sources said the Enugu State-born 28-year-old actor claimed he was introduced into the act by leader of the gang, whose identity he gave as Jack. He said Jack masterminded the kidnap of the female banker, who was his former boss.
He has starred in five home videos: The Eves, Friday Night, Witches Club, Palace Club and Mountain High. He has also released two music albums in 2008 and 2014.
Police sources said: “The suspects were six in number. But three are on the run and we are on their trail.
“During interrogation, the actor said six of them came in a Toyota Corolla car and immediately they saw their target coming out of her Toyota Camry car, they pointed guns at her and drove her to their hideout in Mowe.”
He allegedly confessed that himself and Jack drove the victim’s car to Akerele area of Surulere, where they sold it for N250,000. He said he got N100,000, while Jack took the rest.
“They also sold their victim’s jewellery for N8,000 and her pair of shoes for N3,700.”
He also stated that his share of the ransom was N450,000, but did not disclose how much they got, as the bargain was done between Jack and the victim’s family.”
One of the suspects reportedly told FSARS operatives that he came from Edo State on invitation by a friend.
He said: “A friend invited me to Lagos. All he told me was to watch over the woman and ensure she did not escape from where she was kept. I never knew she was kidnapped. I was tempted by the N350,000 offer.”
On his part, the friend, aged 23, said his role was to provide his master’s Toyota Corolla, which was used for the operation, adding that his share of the ransom was N400,000.
The suspects, as gathered, have been charged to court for kidnap and robbery.