Detectives from the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin identified as John Ewa, who had been on the wanted list of the police for various alleged abductions in the state.

It was learnt that the police operatives trailed Ewa, who goes by the alias ‘Lion’, to Abuja where they nabbed him on Saturday.

The suspect, who flaunts wealth on social media, is believed to be involved in several kidnap incidents around Yenagoa, the state capital.

In a six-second clip that trended on social media at the weekend, Ewa, dressed in his pyjamas, was seen displaying few notes of foreign currency saying, “Get money for this life, hustle, hustle.”

However, another video of his arrest also surfaced at the weekend on social media.

In the 1:05-minute clip, a sobbing Ewa was seen wearing only pants, kneeling on the ground with his hands handcuffed, and apparently responding to questions by officers.

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He said, “Please, forgive me. My wife just born sef.”

The voice of one of his victims, Danjuma, was also heard saying he identified the suspect when he and his gang members kidnapped him.

When contacted, the spokesman for the state Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the arrest of Ewa.

He said, “We are going to issue a statement tomorrow (Monday) or parade the suspect.”

Residents of Unity Estate, Poro-Imope, Idiroko, along Itamaga-Ijede Road, Ikorodu, on Saturday, uncovered a scrap yard where live cartridges were reportedly stored in the area.

Two commercial vehicles, some dismantled motorcycles and personal effects were also intercepted at the yard said to be managed by a group of non-Yoruba men.

Eye witnesses’ account said the discovery took place at about 12.30pm when one of the residents who was passing by noticed a suspicious move by the group and thereafter raised the alarm that attracted other residents.

One of the residents, Mr Alao Kehinde who alerted Vanguard about the discovery said apart from the suspicious move, he noticed the men loading the items in two vehicles with the motive of moving to an undisclosed destination.

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Immediately, the resident was said to have quickly alerted his neighbours before the vehicles took off.

Fortunately, some members of Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC and Ikorodu Peace Initiative were said to have rushed to the scene and three suspects were apprehended in the process.

According to Also, “the scrap yard has been operating in the area before now but nobody suspected that they could be dealing in cartridges until we witnessed what transpired today,”

It was learnt that the three suspects were handed over to men of Igbogbo Division for interrogation while the cartridges, vehicles and other items were recovered from the scene.

Speaking with Vanguard, Rasheed Fatuga, the Founder, Ikorodu Ambassadors Group who was among the first responders at the scene said, “I escorted the suspects to the Police station, I rode with the Ikorodu Peace Initiative in their car.

“Residents of the community uncovered the yard and raised the alarm that attracted law enforcement operatives.”

Confirming the discovery in a statement, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, said, “Operatives of Ikorodu Division of the Lagos State Police Command have intercepted two commercial buses loaded with large quantity of live cartridges, three dismantled motorcycles and some personal effects at Poromope Estate, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects, Tukur Abdullah ‘m’ aged 35, Muazu Telim ‘m’ aged 50 and Dahiru Idris ‘m’ aged 36 were on their way to Katsina State.

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“The suspects, recovered exhibits as well as the vehicles, with registration numbers KMC 438 YK and KMC 394 XF have been transferred to the Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja for further investigations. “

VANGUARD

At least 13 worshippers were killed when bandits attacked a mosque in Ruwan Jema community, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during Juma’at service on Friday.

This comes three weeks after bandits attacked a mosque in Zugu community, Gummi Local Government Area of the state and abducted some worshippers.

Speaking on the latest attack, a resident and an eyewitness, Usman Lawal, told Daily Trust that the attack caused a stampede in the mosque.

Lawal said, “When they laid siege, the armed criminals stormed the mosque when the worshippers were observing Juma’at prayer. We were observing the last Rakaat when suddenly they started firing. Pandemonium broke out as every one was running for dear life.

“They opened fire on the worshippers, killing at least 13 people on the spot. Dozens of others were also injured in a stampede. The armed criminals also killed a number of residents they found in the surrounding bushes.

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“The remains of the residents are being picked from the farms and their funeral prayer was slated for evening today. Bodies are still being picked from forest. Some of the injured victims are responding to treatments in medical facilities in Zamfara and neighbouring Sokoto state.”

Official reports from the police were yet to be made as at the time of filing this report.