Amotekun Arrests Gambler For Faking Own Kidnap In Ogun

A 41-year-old man identified as Enitan Awoyemi has been arrested by the Ogun Amotekun Corps for allegedly orchestrating his kidnapping as a means to evade his financial debt.

The suspect, a resident of Irolu-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, was arrested on Wednesday.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Corps Commander Alade Adedigba in Abeokuta.

Adedigba stated that Awoyemi’s wife, Mrs. Tope Awoyemi, reported the alleged kidnapping of the suspect on November 10 at the Amotekun Irolu outpost.

Adedigba quoted the complainant as saying that her husband had called her, claiming to have been kidnapped the previous day by unidentified individuals who demanded a ransom of N5 million for his release.

“Upon receiving the report, the Amotekun Intelligence team commenced an investigation into the matter, and findings from the investigation revealed that Enitan Awoyemi had accumulated substantial debts related to gambling in a lotto game, amounting to a staggering one million naira.

“Awoyemi, who is a regular player of the game, had previously won 6 million naira from the same game, using portions of his winnings to purchase a Toyota Corolla Sport car and a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle for commercial purposes. Faced with the inability to repay his debts, it is alleged that he resorted to fabricating a kidnapping scenario,” he said.

The commander said with the collaborative effort with the Vigilantes Group of Nigeria, VGN, and other community stakeholders, the suspect was traced to Ijagba town and later Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

“He was ultimately arrested at the Irolu Okada Park in the early hours of November 13, 2024, during routine patrol operations by the Amotekun officers,” he said.

After his arrest, Adedigba said, operatives of the Amotekun perceived a “strong smell of insecticide from him, raising concerns about an attempted suicide.”

He said the suspect was swiftly transported to Rufina Private Hospital in Iperu for medical attention.

“The Amotekun Corps is committed to taking necessary action, and once Enitan Awoyemi is discharged from the hospital, he will be handed over to the police in Ilisan for further proceedings,” the Amotekun boss said.

He reaffirmed the Amotekun Corps’ dedication to maintaining law and order, exposing deceitful activities, and protecting Ogun State residents.