The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a criminal network operating under the guise of “one-chance” robbery, arresting 13 suspects and uncovering what investigators describe as a major kidnapping and extortion base in the Alimosho area of Lagos State.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed the operation while briefing journalists at the syndicate’s hideout located at No. 85 Pipeline Road, Pipeline, Alimosho Local Government Area.
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) also visited the site and issued a contravention notice on the property.
According to the police, the gang specialised in luring unsuspecting victims with fake business offers, including promises of foreign currency exchange and “doubling” of money. Victims were allegedly abducted or extorted when they resisted.
Jimoh said the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence-led policing, which led to the arrest of three suspected members of the gang in the early hours of Monday around Bode Thomas, Surulere.
“The suspects arrested were field operators who go out to pick victims. During interrogation, they led us to this location, which serves as their operational base,” he said.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate, allegedly led by one Demola Ade-Lua, operated multiple coordinated teams across Lagos and used several vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna and other branded cars, to track and pick victims.
Police said the group operated a dual method: victims who agreed to fraudulent “investment” or currency deals were released after payment, while those who resisted were allegedly detained and their families contacted under the false claim of kidnapping.
The gang was also said to deliberately target commuters in the early morning and late night hours, especially worshippers returning from churches and mosques.
“Shrine-like” detention room uncovered
At the Alimosho base, police discovered a small confinement space described as “shrine-like,” allegedly used for holding victims. Items recovered included cutlasses, stones, and other crude weapons believed to have been used to intimidate and assault victims, alongside clothing suspected to belong to previous victims.
“These are not heavily armed criminals, but they rely on crude weapons to overpower and intimidate victims,” the Commissioner said, adding that forensic analysis was ongoing.
Among those arrested were Rotimi Adeluola from Ogun State, Samuel Ogbonna from Abonema in Rivers State—identified as the occupant of the premises—and others linked to various roles within the syndicate.
A 60-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Njoku from Abia State, reportedly confessed to driving operational vehicles and picking victims around Bode Thomas, Surulere, for about eight years.
A female suspect, Tina Willi from Akwa Ibom State, also in custody, claimed limited involvement in the operation.
Police further disclosed that Ogbonna admitted to collecting between ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 from victims in the course of the scheme.
Wider network under investigation
Jimoh said the arrest of 13 suspects followed the earlier interception of three gang members, while additional operations led to further arrests linked to the same network.
He added that five more vehicles allegedly used by the syndicate were still being tracked by investigators.
According to him, the success was made possible by newly established stop-and-search points and undercover tactical teams deployed across strategic entry and exit points in Lagos.
“We are determined to flush out all remnants of this syndicate and others like them,” he said.
The Commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant, advising commuters to avoid suspicious vehicles and to take note of number plates before boarding public transport.
“You must be your own first line of defence. Don’t rush. Ask questions. If you are not interested, walk away,” he warned.
He also encouraged residents to report suspicious activities, assuring that informants’ identities would be protected.
Jimoh further announced plans for a new Anti-Crime Patrol and Community Protection Unit to complement existing formations such as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), with round-the-clock operations across 10 identified hotspots, including waterfront areas.
He assured Lagos residents that security operations had been intensified across the state.
The police also confirmed that the property owner is under investigation and may face sanctions, while suspects are expected to be charged in court upon completion of investigations.
