The police in Lagos said on Monday that those that abducted the wife of Steve Nwosu, the Deputy Managing Director of The SUN Newspapers, Toyin, from their apartment are robbers.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, added that the police had launched a manhunt for the gang, which he also said terrorised the Ago Palace, Okota area on Monday.
Owoseni said the police would ensure the release of the director’s wife, as well as apprehend the robbery gang.
The robbers had stormed Baale Street, Ago Palace Way, in the Okota area, at about 2.am on Monday, breaking into houses and dispossessing residents of their valuables.
It was learnt that the robbers also entered the deputy director’s apartment and robbed the family before abducting Steve’s 40-year-old wife, a mother of four.
A source said that the robbers thereafter escaped on a speedboat through a canal in the area.
Recounting the incident, Steve, who noted that the robbers scaled the fence into his compound, enjoined the police to ensure the release of his wife.
“It was a robbery incident. They also got to other houses. The robbers came into my neighbour’s house through a ladder abandoned by a house painter. Then, they scaled the fence into my house. Let the police help to get my wife released.”
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that a suspected member of the kidnapping gang had got across to the family, demanding N100 million ransom.
A resident in the area, who simply identified himself as Felix, said, “The robbers stormed three houses in the area, shot for several minutes and dispossessed the residents of valuables.
“The robbers then entered the director’s apartment. They stole valuables from the house. But when they were not satisfied, they took away the woman right in the presence of the family members.
“The robbers later escaped at about 3am through the canal at the Amuwo Odofin area.”
The Commissioner of Police said the police were intensifying efforts not only to rescue Toyin, but also to apprehend the suspected robbers.
He said, “The area is still an active crime scene. The police have been there and realised that the robbers gained entrance through an abandoned ladder.
“Apart from my friend’s (Steve) apartment, two to three other apartments were robbed. It was not a stand-alone incident. The robbers then escaped through a boat. There is an element of error by neighbours painting their houses, one of who left the ladder used by the painter hanging there.
“The police had visited the crime scene, and I assure you that we will deploy all human and material resources to liberate the victim. We will also get the hoodlums.”
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