“My Job Was To Lead Gang Members To Victims’ Houses, I Got N1.5m, ($10,000)” – Arrested Kidnap Kingpin, Ikechukwu Ewa Reveals

Apprehended kidnap kingpin, John Ikechukwu Ewa, aka ‘John Lion’ who was paraded by the Bayelsa state police command on Monday, September 26, has given details of his involvement in the crime.

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

Parading the suspect and his accomplices before newsmen today September 26, the state Commissioner of Police, stated that on December 8, one Akeeb Oladele Olushola ‘m’ 48, a Manager of a new generation Bank, was kidnaped at his residence at Old Commissioners Quarters Opolo. He was released on the 12th December after paying a ransom of Eighty (N80) Million Naira.

He said similarly, Danjuma Omeje, 41, a Manager of a new generation Bank in Yenagoa was kidnaped at his residence at Okaka, Yenagoa, on 30th June 2022. He was later 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.

Ewa, who runs Lion Interior Hub as cover for his criminal activities and 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.

Giving an account of his involvement in the crime, the 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 the 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.”

Also speaking, the leader of the gang, Emmanuel Charles Angase, a 37-year-old 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.”

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