Gang posed as commercial drivers and traders, abducted commuters, extorted ransoms, and operated undetected for over eight years.

The men of Nigeria Police,  Lagos State Police Command has smashed a notorious criminal syndicate involved in “one-chance” and 419 scams, uncovering a fortified hideout with shrines and arresting 13 suspects linked to commuter abductions and ransom extortion across the state.

The gang, police said, operated by disguising themselves as commercial drivers, passengers, or traders to lure unsuspecting commuters into their vehicles, particularly in the early mornings and late nights. Victims were either defrauded on the spot or forcibly detained and made to pay ransom through their families.

Police traced the syndicate to a building at No. 85 Pipeline Road, near OPC Junction in the Idimu area of Lagos, where victims were allegedly held captive until payments were made. During a visit to the premises by the Commissioner of Police, journalists observed two shrines inside the compound. One shrine reportedly contained a chair, candles, olive oil and lights, while the other held assorted clothing believed to belong to victims, along with visible bloodstains.

Among those arrested were a former inmate who had been released from prison barely a month ago after serving a four-month sentence, and a woman who allegedly posed as a prophetess to deceive and swindle victims.

Police recovered two vehicles used for the crimes: a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number MAP 523 ZYL and a Toyota car with registration number EPE 209 HY. Investigations revealed the gang operated with about six vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna and other unmarked vans, to ferry victims from bus stops and other locations.

Explaining the gang’s modus operandi, the Commissioner of Police said the suspects functioned “like a double-edged sword.”

“If you comply and hand over money under the guise of business, investment or purchase of goods, they will defraud you and release you,” he said. “But if you resist or show suspicion, they abduct you, contact your family and demand ransom for your release.”

According to him, the syndicate deliberately targeted worshippers going for early morning prayers and commuters waiting at bus stops. Intelligence reports and multiple complaints from victims led police to deploy surveillance teams and tactical checkpoints in identified hotspots.

“Our operatives arrested three principal members of the gang, including their leaders. They led us to their operational base, where weapons and other incriminating items were recovered. Subsequent raids resulted in the arrest of 10 more suspects, bringing the total to 13,” he disclosed.

The Commissioner added that the gang had been active for more than eight years, noting that some victims were drugged or threatened with weapons such as machetes and stones to force compliance. He also linked several similar incidents reported in other parts of Lagos to the same group.

While reassuring residents, he stressed that the situation did not amount to widespread kidnapping in Lagos. “What we are dealing with are ‘one-chance’ gangs who seize people in transit, hold them temporarily and extort their families,” he said.

He urged commuters to remain vigilant, avoid suspicious vehicles and prioritize their personal safety. “Don’t rush into any vehicle. If something feels wrong, walk away and wait. Your safety comes first,” he warned.

One of the suspects, Tina Williams from Akwa Ibom State, claimed she joined the group after her husband’s death left her struggling financially. She said her brother introduced her to the operation, adding that her arrest followed an alarm raised by a woman who accused the gang of swindling her of millions.

Police sources disclosed that the woman had previously been held hostage and that millions of naira were allegedly extorted from her family before she regained freedom.

Another suspect, Emmanuel Njoku, 60, from Abia State, admitted he had been involved in the operation for eight years. He explained that the gang used decoys, including a woman who claimed to be carrying foreign currency, to lure greedy passengers into conversations that led to their downfall.

Ogbona Amos from Rivers State also confessed to involvement in 419 scams, claiming the shrine was used for “church activities” and admitting that the group ran multiple offices and vehicles across Lagos to defraud victims of sums sometimes exceeding N100,000.

Police say investigations are ongoing and efforts have been intensified to arrest other fleeing members and dismantle similar criminal networks across the state.

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