Police gun down notorious kidnap ring leader
By Chioma Joseph, Lagos
The ring leader of a notorious kidnap gang has been gunned down during a gun battle with the police in Lagos state.
The kingpin, Mufutau Sulaimon (also known as Pencil) was alleged to be responsible for the kidnap and murder of two bureau- de-change operators and many other cases of kidnap in Lagos.
Sulaimon it was learnt was traced to his hideout at Odogunya in Ikorodu, by operatives of the Lagos state Police Command.
He was said to have engaged the police in a gun fight, but sustained fatal bullet wounds leading to his death.
Confirming the death of the wanted kidnap kingpin, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Elkana Bala, a deputy superintendent of police, said the deceased and his gang also engaged in rape, cultism and robbery.
Bala also revealed that two policemen sustained injuries during the gun battle, adding that “the notorious kidnap ring leader led his deadly gang in the kidnap and murder of two bureau-de-change operators at Ikorodu, after collecting a ransom of N1.6 million.
“His death brings an end to the reign of terror. His gang is responsible for mysterious disappearance of people, whom they kidnapped, demanded for ransom, murdered and dumped their corpses in septic tanks in Ikorodu over a period of time.
“They are serial killers, rapists and cultists. Three members of his gang were earlier arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). A sustained monitoring of the fugitive ring leader finally yielded positive results, as the team eventually traced him to his hideout at Odogunya, Ikorodu.
“On sighting the team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rotimi Ogunmuyiwa, the said Sulaimon engaged the team in a gun battle. Two SARS operatives namely, Sergeant Omola Adedeji and Sergeant Oluwadare Gbenga, sustained various degree of injuries.
“Sulaimon sustained bullet wounds on his two legs. They were all taken to the hospital where Sulaimon was confirmed dead on arrival; the two injured operatives were taken to intensive care unit and are responding to treatment.”
