The men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 34-year-old Bassey Ekpong for allegedly kidnapping Pratish Joshi, a 24-year-old Indian man, residing in Lagos and getting $200,000 (N30.4m) from the victim’s family.
PUNCH METRO gathered that the suspect and Pratish had been friends for about six years until Ekpong decided to conspire with some others on the run to kidnap the Indian.
Ekpeyong, who said he had been a friend to the Joshi family for many years, added that his friend, identified simply as Ubaka, gave him the idea that Pratish should be kidnapped and ransom should be collected from his family before his release.
He said, “I was with my friend, Ubaka, one day when Pratish came around. After Pratish and I exchanged greetings, Ubaka then told me that we could make good money if we kidnapped him and demanded a ransom.
“After I had given Ubaka all the needed information, he along with two others went to kidnap Pratish at Picolomonto Night Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, and he was taken to Ubaka’s house at Ibeju Lekki. He was held there for four days after which we demanded $200,000 ransom.
“The money was dropped at Airport Road, Ikeja, and he was released immediately. Four of us involved in the kidnap shared the money equally; $50,000 (N7.6m) each.”
But unknown to the suspect, the Joshi family had reported to the police that they suspected that Ekpeyong had a hand in the kidnap.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, said, “Detectives from Ajah Division arrested Ekpeyong and the suspect confessed that Ubaka, 27, Koko, 28 and Biggie, 30, were members of his gang.
“The suspect later showed the police the scene of kidnap and the victim’s house. Items recovered from the suspect include three locally-made pistols and $4,000.”
When asked how he spent his own share of the loot, Ekpeyong said he bought a plot of land at Lekki and fenced it.
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