I kidnapped my boss’ younger brother because I needed money for my in-law’s burial - suspect

A 38-year-old man, William Owolabi, who was arrested for allegedly kidnapping his employer’s younger brother, has admitted that he did so but it was because he needed money to celebrate his father-in-law’s burial, which comes up in November this year.

The suspect is among three kidnap suspects arrested by men of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS).

The suspect, who was said to have also masterminded the kidnap of one Hilary Azuka, 36, and his girlfriend, Rebecca Omokaro, 32, at the Oniru area of Lagos State, claimed that he had approached his employer for a salary advance, a move he said the man rebuffed.

Owolabi and two of his accomplices were paraded at the Lagos State police command yesterday by the acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State police command, Edgal Imohimi.

Owolabi told journalists, “It started last month when my wife and I were levied N180,000, which I did not have. I told my boss, who is a white man, that I needed a loan of N100,000 for a burial but he said there was no money. I discussed with a friend of mine, one Akin Adedamola, who told me that we can kidnap my boss’ brother and get more than enough for the burial.

“Akin went with us for the operation. We trailed Azuka to the WHY NOT hotel where he usually hangs out at night. He was drunk and sitting in his car, and that was when the idea to kidnap him hit me. We followed him to the house and when he got to the gate, we swung on the victim and turned the car back to our base at Ogijo. Akin was with us all through the operation, I went to buy drinks, while the others kept watch over them.”

Ayo, the second suspect, accused Owolabi of demanding N20 million before the suspect can be released, an allegation Owolabi denied. “We were surprised that the police got my wife and she led them to me. She never knew of my plan until the police arrested her,” Owolabi said.