Posted by Amarachi on Mon 12th Aug, 2024 - tori.ng
Recall that in July, nine kidnappers were killed, while two others escaped with gunshot injuries during a foiled kidnap attempt in Ladipo Market.
A key member of the notorious gang of billionaire kidnappers eliminated last month during a raid at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos State, has been identified by detectives from the Special Squad Unit of the Lagos State Police Command.
Recall that in July, nine kidnappers were killed, while two others escaped with gunshot injuries during a foiled kidnap attempt in Ladipo Market.
Previously, only one of the kidnappers was identified. Prince Henry Odenigbo was, until his death, a Nollywood actor/producer who worked with many big names in the industry and regularly credited God for his success on his Instagram posts.
It was also reported that four of those killed during the botched kidnap attempt are his colleagues in the film making industry.
Now, another of the slain kidnappers has been identified as a man known as Uzoamaka. His identity was exposed by a CCTV footage of the gang at work.
Recent investigations led by CSP Kehinde Oni revealed a staggering 42 case files related to the gang’s operations across various police stations in Lagos.
“It was a shocking discovery,” CSP Oni remarked. “The sheer volume of evidence against the gang underscores the extent of their criminal activities.”
Before their raid on Ladipo Market, the gang had kidnapped a wealthy female supermarket owner from Ago Okota, extorting N68 million in ransom.
CCTV footage from the supermarket showed an informant, now identified as Uzoamaka, entering the store to scout the area.
“Our investigation revealed that Uzoamaka played a crucial role in this operation,” a police source said. “He was seen in the footage ensuring the coast was clear before the gang moved in.”
The police said Uzoamaka was renowned in criminal circles for his exceptional marksmanship and specialized training in arms handling.
“He was known as one of the sharpest shooters in the criminal world,” said another police official. “His skills were highly regarded, but we had no idea he was connected to the kidnappings in Lagos until now.”
The police revealed that during the Ladipo Market operation, Uzoamaka fired the first shot when a decoy car blocked the gang’s path.
“The shot he fired was intended to intimidate and eliminate anyone obstructing their escape,” CSP Oni said. “It struck the car’s headrest but narrowly missed our officer.”
Detectives said they have continued efforts to identify all victims involved in the Ladipo raid. However, families of the deceased have been reluctant to come forward.
“We’re working tirelessly to uncover the full extent of the gang’s operations,” a police insider said.
“It’s clear that many have been hiding information, but we’re confident that further investigation will expose everything and reveal the complete truth.”
Watch a video of the CCTV footage purportedly showing Uzoamaka below;