A kidnapper nabbed by the Force Intelligence Response Team headed by DCP Tunji Disu has claimed he trained himself by watching Zubi Michael in Nollywood movies.
Ayobamidele Kudus Ayodele who operated a one-man gang kidnapped a six-year-old boy from Remson Group of Schools, located in Ojo Alaba area of Lagos.
He held the boy hostage until a total ransom of N550,000 was paid for his release.
Narrating how he operated, Ayodele an indigene of Ogun state said; “Zubi Michael is my favorite Nollywood actor and he is good at kidnapping roles.
“I decided to try out some of the methods used by Zubi to kidnap children and adults in the movies.
“I started by visiting several schools around Ojo to see the possibility of picking children without anyone noticing.
“On November 16, 2021, I visited a school close to Alaba International Market and stayed by the gate.
“I saw a teacher passing by and she asked me what I was doing there. I was about to tell her that I wanted to make inquires about the school, but she immediately asked if I was there to register my child in school.
“I said yes and she told me to hold on that the children were writing their exams.
“She came out few minutes later and gave me a form. She also gave me her phone number and asked me to come with the child in the January 2022.
“As soon as she left, I hung around waiting for the right time to strike.
“Then I saw two pupils coming to school. One of them was holding a cane. I stopped them and started chatting with them.
“I took the cane from one of them and asked where he bought it. He mentioned the place but I told him to go and drop his bag and come back to show me where he bought it.
“I whispered into his ears that I would buy him chocolates and biscuits. I told him not to tell the person he was with and he nodded.
“He went in to drop his bag and came back. I told him we would need to enter a motorcycle to the place, he nodded in excitement.
“We rode to Alabarago junction. I gave him my phone that had a lot of games in it and he was so excited.
“The next thing I did was to contact the teacher that gave me her telephone number, to inform her that I had abducted one of her pupils.
“To avoid drawing attention to myself, I took the boy to Saudlat Lounge at One Love Unity Estate, off Igbanla, Idi Agbalumo, in Ilogbo Eremi, area of Lagos.
“The receptionist asked if he was my son and I said yes. She was further convinced when the boy called me daddy.
“That was after I had told him my name was daddy. I booked a room and paid N5000 per night.”
Asked why he did not release the boy after collecting the initial N150,000, Ayodele replied: “I felt I could get more money from the family since N150,000 was very easy for them to pay.
“I took the boy to another area called Magbo, from where I called his father and demanded for additional N2 million naira.
“While he was with me, I bought him ice cream, chicken and snacks. I assured him that I would take him back to school.
“We spent four days there before his family was able to raise N400,000. The boy stayed calm throughout because he had access to my phone which had several games.
“He only expressed worry once, saying his mother would be angry that he came home late. He didn’t even notice he had spent four days with me.
“I am sorry for causing his family so much pain. I am not a cultist or an armed robber. I do not have a gang.
“I just trained myself by watching Zubby Michael. My parents trained me very well, I was just impatient and greedy.”
