Herbalist: I Sent Kidnappers After Rich Clients

*Says he collected N300,000 on each abduction
victim kept in his custody

By Evelyn Usman

The visit of stern looking policemen in three vans
to Odubotu compound, located in Okesopen area
of Ijebu-Igbo,Ogun state, sent fear down the spine
of members of the sleepy community.

The armed men reportedly jumped out of the
vehicles and positioned themselves strategically
around[quote] the building.

Some of them reportedly stormed into one of the
rooms, where they dragged out a herbalist
identified as MukailaDauda..

Not done, the policemen, discovered to be
operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad,
SARS, of the Ogun State Police Command, again,
dashed inside the herbalist’s apartment, taking
him along and conducted a search, in the process
of which they reportedly came out with two AK
47 rifles, a pump action rifle, a barretta pistol, a
cut-to-size locally made short gun and assorted
charms.

The 46-year-old herbalist was subsequently
whisked away in one of the police vans.
The fear stricken neigbours later came out of their
hiding, with expression of confusion and which
needed clarification on their faces. The
explanation was provided, following the allegation
that the herbalist was a member of a kidnaps
gang that had been terrorizing Ogun and
neigbouring states.

Arrested alongside Dauda were four other
suspected members of the syndicate identified as
Ahmed Adebanjo, Tunde Akilo, a popular
commercial motorcyclist, Sunkanmi Dacosta and
Lateef Agboola.

Preliminary investigation, according to the police,
revealed that the suspects may have been
responsible for several cases of kidnapping in
Ijebu axis. One of their victims, the herbalist
allegedly told the police, was one Chief Alakoso, a
prominent businessman, who was kidnapped
three months ago around Emu Eleni area of the
state and released after a ransom of N2 million
was paid.

In this interview with Sunday Vanguard, Dauda, a
father of six, disclosed that his role in the
kidnapping saga was to keep abducted persons
until ransom was paid, adding that he usually
got N300,000 at the end of each operation.
He disclosed that some of the victims were rich
clients who had come to him for spiritual
assistance, while others were abducted in
connivance with their relatives. According to him,
most of the victims were not abducted with
charms, which hypnotized them. The herbalist
explained that rituals were performed on the
kidnappers before embarking on any abduction
trip, to enable them succeed.

Joining syndicate

Dauda explained why he joined the syndicate. “I
am a herbalist. I have been into the profession for
25 years. I specialise in curing strokes and other
ailments which are beyond medical treatment. At
a point, business was no longer moving and
feeding my two wives and six children became
burdensome. It was at this point that I met
Tunde Akilo, a commercial motorcyclist, and
Sunkanmi Dacosta, who introduced me to
kidnapping.

My role is to keep victims in my house, pending
when their families would pay ransom. I never
went out with them but I gave them names of
prominent persons in Ijebu Igbo. Some of these
people have patronized me.

“The first person that was brought to my house
was one Chief Alakoso. He was brought in March,
blindfolded. I got N300,000 after ransom was paid
four days later, for keeping him in my place. This
amount was aside my regular share from the loot
because that was the bargain. Also, two Onipomo
in Ijebu Igbo were kept in my place. I also gave
their contacts to my members.

“I usually prepared charms to fortify members
before they go for any job. This is to enable them
get their catch without trouble. I also prepared
charms that will make victims lose their senses. A
day before they would leave, I would lit fire and
say some incantations into it. The fire will be on
until they arrived. But if it goes off in the process,
that means they have entered into trouble”, said
the herbalist.

Charm disappoints
Members of the kidnap syndicate, some of who
were alleged to be members of separate robbery
gangs and cult groups, reportedly set out last
month for their usual ‘job’. Destination was
Ijebu-Ode /Ikorodu Road, Lagos State and their
victim a herb seller otherwise called Iyaalagbo .
Time was 7pm.

The herb seller was reportedly trailed from her
Odogbolu residence in Ogun State to Itoikin by
the abductors, numbering four. The unsuspecting
trader was about closing for the day when they
arrived, pretending to have come to buy herbs.
Sensing all was not well; the woman reportedly
told the strangers that she did not have what
they requested for. But as she made to leave the
shop, she was reportedly bundled into the
kidnappers car and driven away, amidst sporadic
gun shots, apparently aimed at scaring away
intruders.

Midway into the journey to the herbalist’s house,
the first incident that signaled doom for the
kidnappers occurred, after the two back tyres of
the vehicle punctured.

Explaining how they were arrested, Ahmed
Adesanya, a commercial motorcyclist, from Omu
Eleni town, claimed he only got a telephone call
from one of his colleagues to bring his motorbike
to the spot where the tyres punctured.

The 21-year-old suspect stated: “When I got to
the place, I met one Mama Alagbo, our Okada
unit chairman, Ahmed (Soldier), Yemi Agboola
and Tunde Akilo inside the car. But four of them,
including Mama Alagbo, took off on my
motorcycle, while Yemi Agboola, Tunde Akilo and I
drove in the car. But on reaching Imodi town, we
met some policemen at a checkpoint, who
insisted on checking the vehicle. Agboola and
myself escaped into the bush but we did not see
TundeAkilo. A week later, he (Akilo ) led
policemen to my house and I was arrested”.
Asked what role he played, said, “I used my
Okada to take some passengers to the herbalist’s
house. My targets are usually passengers who do
not know where they are going”.

I also belong to a robbery gang – Akilo

On his part, Akilo, who confessed to be a member
of the Eiye Confraternity, also admitted to be
involved in armed robbery operations within the
Ijebu axis, apart from kidnapping.“He however,
stated that he had only taken part in two
abductions.

“I have only taken part in two kidnap operations.
One was the abduction of Chief Alakoso, after
which I was given N250, 000. The second
operation was that of Mama Alagbo which
unfortunately was unsuccessful. One Yemi
Agboola, a relative to the woman, brought the
deal to us . He said her relatives could provide
N1 million if kidnapped. If I had known, I would
have remained in the robbery gang instead of
joining this syndicate”, he said remorsefully.
38-year-old Dascosta confessed to be a member
of a robbery gang, claiming he was introduced
into kidnapping by the herbalist, Dauda, when he
went to him for spiritual protection. Like his
colleague ,Akilo, he expressed regret for joining
the kidnap syndicate, saying he had only earned
N310,000 since he joined.

I am a victim of circumstance- Dascosta

When approached, Agboola (48) absolved himself
of involvement in the kidnap saga, stating that his
younger brother, Yemi Agboola, drove the
Chevrolet car that was used in the kidnap of
Mama Alagbo.. The brother was said to be on
the run.

“Yemi came to me during the celebration of
Kilajosu festival and said he wanted to use my
car. I gave him the keys without suspecting any
foul play and told him to return it the next day.
He told me he wanted to drive it to Omu-Eleni”,
he narrated.

“But to my shock, some policemen stormed my
house and asked me to follow them to the
station, only to be shown a vehicle which turned
out to be mine. That was how I became a guest
here. I have never robbed all my life, neither have
I been involved in kidnap. I am only a victim of
circumstance. My prayer is for the police to arrest
my brother so that I will be vindicated”.

Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/herbalist-i-sent-kidnappers-after-rich-clients/