Operatives of Zone 2 Police Command have arrested one Islamic cleric identified as Animashaun Oluwasegun, now known as Afeez Uthman. He was alleged to have, through diabolical means, lured the wife of one of the members of his congregation to elope with him along with her children.
This, according to the police, took place twelve years ago.
On his arrest, the Zonal Command spokesperson, DSP Hauwa Idris, stated that the command acted on a petition by the husband of the woman alleging that his wife and children were kidnapped by Afeez 12 years ago.
Based on the petition, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ali Ari, detailed detectives from the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit, who immediately swung into action and got Afeez and his alleged accomplices arrested.
His accomplices were identified as Mr. Ramon Temidayo Uthman, Saidi Ajayi, Alhaja Monsurat Salami, and Kikelomo.
They were alleged to have collected N105 million as ransom and also forced the abducted woman to transfer the family’s land property documents to them.
“Afeez allegedly admitted the allegations against him. He also admitted that he converted a Model 2004 Chevrolet Rain Blazer SUV valued at $9,700 USD, equivalent to Five million Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N5,600,000.00), abducted the complainant’s wife and three children for twelve years, and changed their vital documents such as birth certificates, etcetera, belonging to the complainant in connivance with his wife, Alhaja Kikelomo, and one Saidi Ajayi, his driver.
“The modus operandi of the suspect is to pretend to be a prayer partner with his victims as he is a strong member of an Islamic society called “Ansarullai Youth at Ikorodu, Lagos State”. He uses spiritual concoction to bathe and drink with the pretense that it will pave the way for his victims and also make them take an oath that they should not disclose to anyone.” DSP Idris stated.
