It has been confirmed that a well-known Nollywood actor and producer, simply identified as Ode, was among nine kidnappers killed by police in Lagos. These kidnappers had been terrorizing the city and its surroundings for an extended period.
Ode, based in Port Harcourt, was killed during a confrontation with detectives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad at the Ladipo auto spare parts market. The gang was attempting to abduct a wealthy businessman when they met their end.
Investigations revealed that the vehicles used by the kidnappers—a Lexus 350 Jeep and a 4Runner Jeep—were registered in the actor’s name. Additionally, two mobile phones recovered from the scene were registered to Ode but featured photos of unidentified young men and fake addresses.
The detectives are working tirelessly to uncover the identities of the remaining gang members. One of the deceased was identified as a twin, prompting his surviving brother to flee their shared residence. A WhatsApp user provided valuable information, identifying five of the killed kidnappers, highlighting their local connections.
“Yesterday was a very revealing and eye-opening day for me. Five of these kidnap gangsters were identified, and the shocking part is that two of them live in my immediate environs,” a local resident wrote on WhatsApp.
The police have traced one gang member to a city in the North and are working to apprehend him. They also discovered another of the gang’s meeting spots in Lagos and are monitoring it closely. The owner of a beer parlour frequented by the kidnappers is already in police custody, providing useful information.
The kidnappers had evaded capture for so long by using military uniforms to pass through police checkpoints. These uniforms were found in their cars after the shootout.
In response to the police’s success, executive members of the Ladipo market visited Lagos State Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade, commending the police for their efforts and presenting a certificate of commendation. They pledged continued cooperation with law enforcement.
