*Says he collected N300,000 on each abduction
victim kept in his custody
By Evelyn Usman
The visit of stern looking policemen in three vans
to Odubotu compound, located in Okesopen area
of Ijebu-Igbo,Ogun state, sent fear down the spine
of members of the sleepy community.
The armed men reportedly jumped out of the
vehicles and positioned themselves strategically
around[quote] the building.
Some of them reportedly stormed into one of the
rooms, where they dragged out a herbalist
identified as MukailaDauda..
Not done, the policemen, discovered to be
operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad,
SARS, of the Ogun State Police Command, again,
dashed inside the herbalist’s apartment, taking
him along and conducted a search, in the process
of which they reportedly came out with two AK
47 rifles, a pump action rifle, a barretta pistol, a
cut-to-size locally made short gun and assorted
charms.
The 46-year-old herbalist was subsequently
whisked away in one of the police vans.
The fear stricken neigbours later came out of their
hiding, with expression of confusion and which
needed clarification on their faces. The
explanation was provided, following the allegation
that the herbalist was a member of a kidnaps
gang that had been terrorizing Ogun and
neigbouring states.
Arrested alongside Dauda were four other
suspected members of the syndicate identified as
Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular
commercial motorcyclist, Sunkanmi Dacosta and
Lateef Agboola.
Preliminary investigation, according to the police,
revealed that the suspects may have been
responsible for several cases of kidnapping in
Ijebu axis. One of their victims, the herbalist
allegedly told the police, was one Chief Alakoso, a
prominent businessman, who was kidnapped
three months ago around Emu Eleni area of the
state and released after a ransom of N2 million
was paid.
In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dauda, a
father of six, disclosed that his role in the
kidnapping saga was to keep abducted persons
until ransom was paid, adding that he usually
got N300,000 at the end of each operation.
He disclosed that some of the victims were rich
clients who had come to him for spiritual
assistance, while others were abducted in
connivance with their relatives. According to him,
most of the victims were not abducted with
charms, which hypnotized them. The herbalist
explained that rituals were performed on the
kidnappers before embarking on any abduction
trip, to enable them succeed.
Joining syndicate
Dauda explained why he joined the syndicate. “I
am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for
25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other
ailments which are beyond medical treatment. At
a point, business was no longer moving and
feeding my two wives and six children became
burdensome. It was at this point that I met
Tunde Akilo, a commercial motorcyclist, and
Sunkanmi Dacosta, who introduced me to
kidnapping.
My role is to keep victims in my house, pending
when their families would pay ransom. I never
went out with them but I gave them names of
prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo. Some of these
people have patronized me.
“The first person that was brought to my house
was one Chief Alakoso. He was brought in March,
blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid
four days later, for keeping him in my place. This
amount was aside my regular share from the loot
because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo
in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave
their contacts to my members.
“I usually prepared charms to fortify members
before they go for any job. This is to enable them
get their catch without trouble. I also prepared
charms that will make victims lose their senses. A
day before they would leave, I would lit fire and
say some incantations into it. The fire will be on
until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process,
that means they have entered into trouble”, said
the herbalist.
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