Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, has debunked rumours of alleged kidnappings in Lekki and other parts of the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday.
Odumosu, while reacting to reports on social media that kidnappers had taken over Admiralty Way in Lekki, Ozumba Mbadiwe Way, Lekki/Ikoyi Link Bridge and some parts of Lekki community in Lagos, described it as false.
A Twitter user had claimed that several persons were reportedly abducted at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday by gunmen, and were released after being dispossessed of their valuables.
A veteran actress, Kate Henshaw, also tweeted about increasing cases of robberies and kidnapping along Freedom Way and Admiralty Way in Lekki, urging residents to be careful.
Reacting to the development, Odumosu said it was an isolated robbery case reported by one Adegoke Joel on behalf of one Adenike Kosoko.
He expressed;
The only isolated incident recorded by the command on 18th May, 2021, which went viral, was a case of “One Chance”, reported by one Adegoke Joel, m, on behalf of one Adenike Kosoko, f, who boarded a private car at Admiralty Way, opposite Zenith Bank, Lekki on 18th May, 2021 at about 7.30 p.m.
Unfortunately, the two (2) male occupants of the car turned to be One Chance operators that drove her around Lekki and Ikate, Lagos before she was dropped.
‘One chance’ is a form of robbery where the perpetrators pose as transporters to lure unsuspecting passengers into their vehicle and then dispossess them of their valuables.
The Commissioner further stated;
In the course of investigation, it was revealed that she was dropped by the culprits same day before 12am at Ikate area of the state.
The hoodlums only used her ATM card to withdraw the sum of N110,000 from her bank account.
Odumosu said the command has been tackling the issue of ‘one chance’ robberies in the state and more efforts are being channelled towards eradicating the menace.
He added;
The Command, therefore, wishes to state categorically that it was a pure case of “One Chance” which the command has been tackling in the state and more efforts are being channeled towards eradicating the menace and other social vices in the state.
Odumosu directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for investigation.
There have been cases of kidnap in other South-west states, including Osun State where several passengers were kidnapped at Osu, along Ilesha road on April 27.
MDB also reported how kidnappings persist in many South-west states, despite the existence of a regional security outfit called Amotekun.
