The Lagos Police Command’s Special Squad One Team shot dead nine members of a notorious kidnapping gang during an operation in Ladipo, Mushin, in July.
In July, news emerged that a film producer and CEO of Ason-Rich Movie Production, Henry Odenigbo, was one of the nine members of a notorious kidnapping gang killed during an operation in Ladipo, Mushin.
Afric Showbiz reported that the Lagos Police Command’s Special Squad One Team shot dead the gang members who were allegedly planning to abduct wealthy individuals in the state.
Police Investigation into Kidnap Gang
The police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the Command had been pursuing the gang for the past eight months due to their numerous kidnappings of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo, and Ladipo areas of Lagos State.
The police, however, concealed the identities of the suspects. Nevertheless, spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin reported that they recovered:
Four AK-47 rifles
Four locally made semi-automatic pistols
Nine AK-47 magazines
Three walkie-talkies
Two operational vehicles: a black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350
Allegations and Disassociation
While the suspects’ identities remained confidential, filmmaker and actor Stanley Nwoko, also known as Stanley Ontop, posted photos of Odenigbo on his Instagram, alleging that he was the “ringleader” of the kidnap gang who was killed in a gunfight with the police.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria, along with prominent figures such as Kanayo O Kanayo and Yul Edochie, distanced themselves from the deceased filmmaker and three other film practitioners. The Guild issued a statement asserting that the individuals who perished in the shootout at Ladipo on Thursday were not members of their organisation.
The statement read in part:
“The Rivers State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria disclaims any affiliation with the individuals who tragically lost their lives in a recent robbery incident in Lagos. Specifically, Prince Henry Asonna (Executive Producer of Aso Rich), Angel Emanuzo (Associate Producer), Chris Ahaneku (Logistics Manager of Rich), and Jerry Eze (Camera Assistant) were not members of our guild. They were not part of our organisation.”
Confirmation of Involvement
A report by Vanguard newspaper published on Saturday confirmed Odenigbo’s involvement in the kidnapping attempt. It noted that previously, only one gang leader, Prince Henry Ode, a prominent Nollywood actor and producer from Port Harcourt, had been identified, along with about four colleagues in the film-making industry who were also involved in the violent confrontation with the police.
The four members are included in the AGN’s Rivers State Chapter disclaimer. Recent investigations led by Kehinde Oni, a DSP, revealed 42 case files related to the gang’s operations across various police stations in Lagos.
“It was a shocking discovery. The sheer volume of evidence against the gang underscores the extent of their criminal activities,” Vanguard quoted Mr Oni as saying.
Identity of the Gang’s Sharpshooter
The police also uncovered the identity of the gang’s sharpshooter, whom they referred to as a “sharp shooter.” Mr Oni stated that Uzoamaka is renowned in criminal circles for his exceptional marksmanship and specialised training in arms handling.
“He was known as one of the sharpest shooters in the criminal world,” another police official commented. His skills were highly regarded, but we had no idea he was connected to the kidnappings in Lagos until now.
During the Ladipo Market operation, Uzoamaka fired the first shot when a decoy car obstructed the gang’s escape. The shot he fired was intended to intimidate and eliminate anyone in their way, striking the car’s headrest but narrowly missing an officer, as revealed by Mr Oni.
Ongoing Investigation
The police reiterated their commitment to identifying all victims involved in the Ladipo raid, despite the families of the slain kidnappers being reluctant to come forward.
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