Gunmen numbering 20, stormed the estate at midnight, killing three guards who challenged them, before gaining entry into Adekoya’s apartment whisking him away in their waiting boat.
Adekoya was however released in the early hours of Monday and has since reunited with his family.
Operatives of the IGP’s IRT, traced one of Adekoya’s abductors to Century Village in Ogijo town, Ogun State, where he was arrested Tuesday.
During interrogation, the suspect identified as Joseph Omoni, a native of Ajapa community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, admitted he participated in the crime, adding that he got N250,000 as his share of the ransom paid.
Nigerian Turkish International College kidnap
Omoni, 38, further disclosed that he participated in several other kidnaps in Lagos and Ogun states. Among them was that of students and staff of the Nigerian Turkish International College, Ogun state, claiming that he got N2 million as his share of the ransom paid.
Late TV presenter, Ali-Balogun’s murder
Furthermore, Omoni, said he was part of the gang that struck in Ikorodu area of the state, last December, when TV presenter, Aisha Ali-Balogun and an unidentified motorist were killed.
Although, he said that late Ali-Balogun and the unidentified motorist were hit by stray bullets, he added that at the end of the shooting spree, nine persons, among them a pregnant woman and three children were kidnapped. He, however, did not state how much he got from the ransom paid.
Investment in property
Omoni, who disclosed that he had been in the illicit business for a while, said that he had built two houses in Century village, Ogijo, Ogun State, with his share of ransom paid for the release of their victims. He added that he used the rest to take care of his family.
During preliminary investigation, the IRT men also discovered another house built by one of Omoni’s gang members popularly known as chairman, also in Century village.
One of the buildings recovered, a bungalow with a store attached, was being occupied by the suspect’s family members, while the second was almost completed. All the houses have been sealed by the Police.
Arrest
Police sources said IRT operatives led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, were directed by the IGP to fish out perpetrators of the Isheri North estate kidnap. The operatives were said to have kept vigil around the shores of the creeks after Adekoya was released.
In the process, Omoni and another member identified as Chairman left the creeks apparently to enjoy their loot. But the operatives trailed them to Ogijo where Omoni was apprehended but Chairman managed to escape.
Startling confession
In his confessional statement, Omoni said; “ We were over 20 that took part in the Isheri estate kidnap and we shared the N5 million ransom.
‘’I got N250, 000 because I took part in the operation. It was Stone and Chairman who shot the three guards because they wanted to stop our operation. I don’t know the informant who brought the job because he communicated exclusively with Stone and American, who were the commanders of the camp.
“I didn’t follow them to kidnap the Turkish school girls but I was in the camp and when the money was paid, I got N2 million. I invested the money in my building project in Ogijo.
‘’Out of the N2 million, I bought tiles, roofing sheets, toilet fittings and sent part of it to my family in the village.
‘’Before I was arrested, Chairman and I came to the site to check our projects to see what was left, but I don’t know how the police learned of our presence. Chairman managed to escape but I wasn’t that lucky”.
Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of zone 2, Kayode Aderanti confirmed the arrest. He said efforts were on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
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