How we collected N5m ransom to free Lagos fire service director, others

By Chioma Joseph, Lagos

The two suspects who allegedly participated in the kidnap of the Director of the Lagos state Fire Service boss, Mr.  Rasaki Musibau has confessed to collecting a ransom of N5 million.
The fire service boss and six others were abducted on April 6, while returning from an official function by a seven- man gang at the Ketu-Ereyun, Ikorodu-Epe Road.
The abducted victims were however, freed three days after they were kidnapped.  
The suspects, Blessing Boyo and Smart Alfred were arrested and paraded at the Lagos state Police Command on Thursday, by the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu. 
The suspects claimed the gang was paid the ransom in cash before the victims were released.  
According to 29- year- old Boyo, this was his first time as a kidnapper. He said it was their gang leader, whom he identified as MK that arranged the whole kidnap job.  
Making confessional statement, Boyo said the gang leader received the ransom on behalf of the gang and was yet to share of the money.  
“I am from Arogbo in Ondo state. I work and live in Ondo state as a timber operator. It was MK, who came to call me for a job. He brought me to Lagos. He is also an operator, but he did not tell me it was kidnapping. He took me to the bush where there were other guys waiting.  
“It was when I got to the bush that he revealed the nature of the job I was going to do. He brought out four guns and when it was time to strike, MK and one other member of the gang blocked the road with a timber. 
“While the victims were trying to pull the timber off the road, we came out from the bush and started shooting. We ordered them to come out of their vehicles and follow us and they obeyed. 
“We took them to the bush and were giving them garri and egusi soup until their release was secured. It was MK that went to collect the ransom, but he was yet to give us our share of the money before the police stormed the bush and arrested us. The other five members of the gang fled,” he said. 
 Alfred, who is 32 -years -old, said he yielded to the offer because he was jobless. 
The suspect who is also an indigent of Ondo state said, “it was MK that lured me into kidnapping. He told me he had a job for me and he took me to the bush. I thought he was going to kill me, but he laughed and told me he was going to introduce me to a job that will pay me well. This is my first time.”  
The police said efforts are on to arrest the other fleeing suspects.