THE suspected kidnap kingpin, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ewa, aka ‘John Lion’ who was arrested in Abuja and behind a series of high-profile kidnappings in Bayelsa State was on Monday paraded alongside three members of his gang at the Police Officers Mess, Yenagoa Bayelsa State.

Ewa was arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder in Abuja and was transferred to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, where he was paraded.

Ewa, who runs Lion Interior Hub as cover for his criminal activities, is known for his lavish lifestyle and heavy spending at nightclubs in Yenagoa, was paraded alongside three other members of his gang, Emmanuel Charles Angase, a 37years native of Azuzuma Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Innocent Kingsley, 31 years, a native of Egbu Community Etche LGA, Rivers State, and one Timi Werikumo a 21-years old native of Azuzuama Community Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State. Other members of the gang are at large.

Narrating his involvement, the prime suspect, John Ikechukwu Ewa, a.k.a. John Lion, a 30-year-old native of Eruah Community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, said: “I was involved in the kidnapping of Danjuma, I was not aware of the kidnapping, I was told they have a business together, I should just tell them where he is staying. I was working there in Sterling Bank as a cleaner, I left there in 2003.

I appreciate not being part of the gang, I was just misled. In sharing of the ransom they gave me as a dash N1.5 Million then $10,000 was given to me by Emmanuel when I change the money it was N7.5m.

“Lion is my name, it is the English translation of Ewa. I played the role of showing them Danjuma’s house. I did not play any role in Akin’s kidnap, I only showed them his house that he is the former boss I didn’t know that they were kidnappers.”

I HAPPENED TO BE THE DRIVER–EMMANUEL CHARLES

Another leader of the gang, Emmanuel Charles Angase, a 37years native of Azuzuma Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, said: “I am not the owner of the camp, I can’t really get the actual date but sometime last year we did a kidnapping but I was not the head, I was not even the one that brought the job but I happened to be the driver’ then this year we did a kidnapping job again but that of last year was Akim then Danjuma, that is the only two.

“What I was told is N45m for Danjuma then I was told that Akin paid N80m, they were taken to Sunikiri Creek area. I am not the leader, the leader of the kidnapping is Bale, I don’t know where he is.”

GANG RESPONSIBLE FOR TEN HIGH-PROFILE KIDNAPPINGS IN 7 YEARS—CP

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ben Okoli said: “In recent times the Command was confronted with reported cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism. I re-jig the security strategy with a special focus on tackling kidnapping and armed robbery.

“The strategy has paid off with the recent arrest of members of a notorious kidnapping gang by operatives of Operation Restore Peace. This gang has been responsible for over ten (10) high-profile kidnappings in the State over a period of seven (7) years.

“On 8th December 2020 one Akeeb Oladele Olushola ‘m’ 48 years a Manager of a new generation bank was kidnapped at his residence at Old Commissioners Quarters Opolo, Yenagoa, he was released on the 12th December after paying a ransom of Eighty (N80) Million Naira.

“Similarly, Danjuma Omeje 41 years, a Manager of a new generation bank in Yenagoa was kidnap at his residence at Okaka, Yenagoa, on 30th July 2022, he was released on 14th July 2022 after paying a ransom of 60 million naira. Thirty (N30) Million Naira cash and US Dollar equivalent of Thirty (N30) Million Naira.

“Operatives of Operation Restore Peace through painstaking investigation arrested the following suspects;

“Emmanuel Charles Angase ‘m’ 37 years, a native of Azuzuama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA, the leader of the kidnapping gang. He operates a kidnapping camp at Sunikiri Creek near Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area with his second in command one Gbalipre Gamage now at large. Police operatives recovered a brand new Toyota Avalon he bought for his wife with the proceed of ransom he collected.

“The gang leader Emmanuel Charles Angase has confessed that on 30th June 2022 at about 0600 hours, himself, John Ewa and others at large accosted Danjuma Omeje at the entrance of his house at Okaka, kidnap him and fled in a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY. They took the victim to his camp at Sunikiri Oluasiri, and release him on 14th July 2022 after collecting Sixty 60 million ransom. The suspect also confessed to the kidnap of Akeeb Oladele Olusola a banker and Nancy Keme Dickson, a younger sister of former Governor Senator Seriake Dickson who was kidnapped on 26th December 2015. He also confessed to the kidnap of Chinonso Eze and other Igbo Businessmen.

“John Ikechukwu Ewa ‘m’ 30 years aka John Lion, a native of Eruan Community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, known for a flamboyant lifestyle on social media, a former cleaner with a new generation bank, confessed to having collected Ten (10) Thousand US Dollars from the ransom collected in the kidnap of Danjuma Omeje.

“Innocent Kingsley ‘m’ 31 years, a native of Egbu Community Itche LGA, Rivers State. The owner of a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY and one Timi Werikumo ‘m’ 21 years, a native of Azuzuama Community Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State.”

“All the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.

“The Bayelsa State Police Command under my watch has firmly resolved to make the State uncomfortable for criminals. Our Officers are determined more than ever to rid the State of criminals’ elements and to ensure our communities are safer for businesses and economic activities to thrive.”

All the four kidnap for ransom kingpins arrested at Bauchi State by the Police for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnappings by the Intelligence Response Team IRT of the Nigeria Police Force have confessed to the killing of a retired Divisional Police Officer DPO CSP Garkuwa and a serving lawmaker Hon.Musa Mante of the state House of Assembly.

While the suspects said that they killed the Police officer after his retirement for making life tough and miserable for them by constantly searching for them, they also said that the killed the late lawmker and kidnapped his wives and children for failing to assist them with funds after making several requests for it.

The syndicate’s key suspect is Hamishu Galadima 48 alias Kan Wuka and Abdulwahab Alhassan alias Emeka and Abdulwahab Ahmed alias Dan mama and Hamidu Saleh are kidnappers arrested by the IRT operatives after intelligence reports on the kidnappings, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy were lodged against them by the indegenes of Dass LGA of Bauchi State.

After a well coordinated operation by the DCP Tunji Disu led intelligence Police team, the officers apprehended the suspects and they confessed their individual involvement and roles in all the kidnappings and armed robbery operations in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna villages and market roads on Mondays.

They also confessed to ‘ve also burgled the room of one Suleiman Shuaibu alias Shayi a native of Dass local council of Bauchi State at about 01.15 hours and took into captivity six members of the man’s family.

The key suspect Hamishu said that his gang killed the divisional police officer because he was in the habit of always searching for them every time after any crime incident was reported.

On the killing of the lawmaker, he said that the criminal gang eliminated the man for refusing to assist them with funds after several requests were made of him from his gang members whereas he always assisted others.

He said: “We entered the house of the honourable member House of Assembly Hon.Musa Mante and killed him inside his room and took physical cash of two million naira (N2,000000).

“And we kidnapped his two wives and took them to Dutsin Miagoshi Igala and the victims spent almost four days in capitivity and we demanded for a ransomel of thirty-five million naira (N35,000000)”.

On how they killed the lawmaker, he said that he was the one guarding the deceased man’s gate while other gang members entered through the house roof of the house and took away his money before killing him.


The other suspect Abdulwahab alias Emeka who further confessed that they worked with the gang leader in the various kidnapping cases added that he was previously dealing on hard drugs and had interracted and know all the criminals terrorising the villages in Bauchi.

He however said that he did not follow the crime suspects to the home of the lawmaker but he only provided them with the information that was needed for his capture. He added that he was an ex-convict adding that was arrested for drug offences by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and was imprisoned twice for two year jail terms and served his terms and was released.

Upon further interrogations by the IRT media team, all the suspects admitted that that they had engaged the late lawmaker in an argument about his constituency projects that was said to be lopsided and when he could not provide a satisfactory answer they shot him.

They also said that they ganged up against the retired Police officer because he vowed to continue to pursue and deal with the criminals in the area for natives safety and security. On the exhibits recovered by the Police team, they had confessed to have operated with one AK 47 assualt rifle and assorted range of ammunitions

The Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba has directed that all the weapons, arms and ammunitions in the hands of criminal elements such as kidnappers and bandits should be mopped up immediately for security of lives of citizens of the country.

The Police authorities through the Force Spokesman CSP Muyiwa Adejobi has assured that all the suspects are going to be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the nation.

All the four kidnap for ransom kingpins arrested at Bauchi State by the Police for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnappings by the Intelligence Response Team IRT of the Nigeria Police Force have confessed to the killing of a retired Divisional Police Officer DPO CSP Garkuwa and a serving lawmaker Hon.Musa Mante of the state House of Assembly.

While the suspects said that they killed the Police officer after his retirement for making life tough and miserable for them by constantly searching for them, they also said that the killed the late lawmker and kidnapped his wives and children for failing to assist them with funds after making several requests for it.

The syndicate’s key suspect is Hamishu Galadima 48 alias Kan Wuka and Abdulwahab Alhassan alias Emeka and Abdulwahab Ahmed alias Dan mama and Hamidu Saleh are kidnappers arrested by the IRT operatives after intelligence reports on the kidnappings, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy were lodged against them by the indegenes of Dass LGA of Bauchi State.

After a well coordinated operation by the DCP Tunji Disu led intelligence Police team, the officers apprehended the suspects and they confessed their individual involvement and roles in all the kidnappings and armed robbery operations in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna villages and market roads on Mondays.

They also confessed to ‘ve also burgled the room of one Suleiman Shuaibu alias Shayi a native of Dass local council of Bauchi State at about 01.15 hours and took into captivity six members of the man’s family.

The key suspect Hamishu said that his gang killed the divisional police officer because he was in the habit of always searching for them every time after any crime incident was reported.

On the killing of the lawmaker, he said that the criminal gang eliminated the man for refusing to assist them with funds after several requests were made of him from his gang members whereas he always assisted others.

He said: “We entered the house of the honourable member House of Assembly Hon.Musa Mante and killed him inside his room and took physical cash of two million naira (N2,000000).

“And we kidnapped his two wives and took them to Dutsin Miagoshi Igala and the victims spent almost four days in capitivity and we demanded for a ransomel of thirty-five million naira (N35,000000)”.

On how they killed the lawmaker, he said that he was the one guarding the deceased man’s gate while other gang members entered through the house roof of the house and took away his money before killing him.


The other suspect Abdulwahab alias Emeka who further confessed that they worked with the gang leader in the various kidnapping cases added that he was previously dealing on hard drugs and had interracted and know all the criminals terrorising the villages in Bauchi.

He however said that he did not follow the crime suspects to the home of the lawmaker but he only provided them with the information that was needed for his capture. He added that he was an ex-convict adding that was arrested for drug offences by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and was imprisoned twice for two year jail terms and served his terms and was released.

Upon further interrogations by the IRT media team, all the suspects admitted that that they had engaged the late lawmaker in an argument about his constituency projects that was said to be lopsided and when he could not provide a satisfactory answer they shot him.

They also said that they ganged up against the retired Police officer because he vowed to continue to pursue and deal with the criminals in the area for natives safety and security. On the exhibits recovered by the Police team, they had confessed to have operated with one AK 47 assualt rifle and assorted range of ammunitions

The Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba has directed that all the weapons, arms and ammunitions in the hands of criminal elements such as kidnappers and bandits should be mopped up immediately for security of lives of citizens of the country.

The Police authorities through the Force Spokesman CSP Muyiwa Adejobi has assured that all the suspects are going to be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the nation.

Policemen attached to Iju Divison, Lagos State Police Command have arrested four fake soldiers.

The fake soldiers were arrested in a Mazda vehicle on Sunday 24 July at about 1:30 pm within Iju area of Lagos

The suspects identified as Samuel Abel ‘28, Victor ljeemai 35, Lukman Salabiu 43 and Oyinyechi Macus 30 were nabbed during a routine patrol led by CSP Gbenga Stephen, the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) Iju

Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson Lagos State Police Command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for further investigation.”

Recall that two weeks ago a fake soldier was arrested by policemen attached to Orile division for impersonation at Sari-iganmu Road, Orile.

20-year-old OLadunwo Micheal, an imposter who is not a member of any military formation was cladded in full military camouflage when he was arrested.