Abia CP Parades kidnapping kingpin in Abia
The Abia State Commissioner of Police yesterday paraded a-32-year-old Kingsley Lazarus Sunday, suspected leader of a notorious kidnapping gang in Aba, who took over the leadership of the dreaded gang after the death of one Agbayi, alias “Onye Army.”
Agbayi described as most notorious of the kidnappers in Aba, was said to have ruled the kidnapping world in and out of Aba for many years before he was killed in a gun duel with the police early June 2016.
After his death, police said, Lazarus, an ex convict, who had served jail term of two years in Owerri, following the death of his live in lover during child birth, took over the leadership of the gang.
Speaking while parading the kidnapper, the Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr Adeleye Olusola Oyebade warned those who still indulge in criminal activities in the state to desist from what he described as crime against humanity, adding that his command would not accept it any longer.
He called on members of the public to partner with the police and give relevant information that will lead to the stamping out of criminal activities in the state.
He said the inauguration of Eminent Persons Forum was being used to get relevant and dependable information from members of the public which has really improved their response time to distress calls.
He stated that the aim is to ensure that all nooks and cranies of Abia are relatively crime free.
He assured all to continue to give the police information which they will treat with utmost confidentiality, adding that with the new strategy they have put in place, the police is covering all the entry and exit points of the state so that there will be proper environment conducive for development to thrive.
“On the 21st day of August 2016, intelligent was received that some kidnappers have entered into Aba through Ohanku, three teams of policemen drawn from SARS, Dragon and Anti Robbery were dispatched immediately to hunt for them. Consequently, one Kingsley Lazarus Sunday, 32 years, a native of Ibinanta Igbere, Bende LGA, who lives at No. 24 Emelogu street Aba was arrested while others took to their heels. One ash colour Toyota Siena Reg. JJJ 227 EE belonging to Mrs Amaka Onwusoh which was snatched from her driver, one Kelechi Egwuonwu was recovered .
Kingsley Lazarus Sunday belong to notorious kidnapping gang led by one late Agbayi, alias Onye Army who met his Waterloo in a gun battle with the police early June, 2016.”
The Commissioner said other members of the gang still at large include Obere from Item, in Bende LGA, Happy Boy from Awkuzu in Anambra state. He said efforts have been intensified to track them down.
Speaking to newsmen on the matter, the kidnapping suspect, Lazarus said that he met Agbayi in Prison at Owerri, and when they came out, he started working with him.
According to him, While this was going on, one of his brothers, called Ifeanyi warned him last year to stop kidnapping, that the leader, Agbayi was just using them to make money, and he did.
He said that since that incident last year, he decided to quit kidnapping and the leader, Agbayi latter wanted to kill him alleging that he was an informant to the police.
He said that when he was working with Agbayi, his role was to carry them in keke to an operation after which they would settle him at the end of the business.
“Because of that threat that he would kill me, , I ran to Enugu and stayed there for sometime before coming back to Aba. The first business we had, he gave me N5,000, and said that the man did not pay anything, the second one, they gave me N12,000 and the third one , Agbayi eat the money and said that there was nothing in it. It was at that point that Ifeanyi told me to remove my hand from the business. “
He said that what led to his arrest was when they went to snatch car which they wanted to sell to make money.
“When I came back from Enugu, One boy they call Happy Boy, with two other boys called me that I should go and drive them to where they were going to snatch car to sell and make money. As we got close to where the car , Happy boy wanted to walk up to the man to snatch the car and the man carry speed, hit my Keke and I fly from the Keke and run”, he said.
He said that it was after that the police trace him where he was sleeping and arrested him around 5 am on Sunday morning, August 21, 2016.
Other breakthroughs made by the police include the recovery of Camry Car marked LV 278 EKY belonging Pastor of a local Church in Ogbo Hill area of Aba, END
