The Lagos State Police Command has resolved to conceal the identities of nine suspected kidnappers who invaded the state on July 4. Seven of the alleged kidnappers were killed in an intelligence-driven ambush. However, the reason for this decision by the police is unknown......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The quest to unravel their identities followed controversies surrounding the involvement of a Nollywood ‘actor/producer’, Henry Odenigbo, alleged to have been killed during the ambush.
According to the police, seven alleged kidnappers that invaded the state were killed, and two escaped with bullet injuries. The syndicate were said to have targeted residents or business persons in the Ladipo area of the state before the ambush.
The area is a host to the popular Ladipo market ranked as the largest auto spare part market in the country, and is likely to house successful business traders, dealers or residents.
The said Nollywood ‘actor/producer’ is alleged to have been among the syndicate, thus questioning the authenticity of the controversy as well as the personalities and the source of wealth of some Nollywood actors.
The Lagos Police Command when contacted by THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, declined to give out the identities of the slain suspected kidnappers.
Its spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin also declined any future plan to make public, the profile of the slain kidnappers. “I am not speaking about it… I decline to address any allegations,” he said, reacting to all questions asked by our correspondent.
Interestingly, the ambush of this syndicate occurred after eight months of surveillance.
A statement shared via Hundeyin’s X handle, concerning the matter, partly read, “It is worthy of note that the command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Ikolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo of the state.”
The non-disclosure of the suspects’ identities by the police, is likely to incite sustained disinformation and defame the individual in question if not addressedz
Videos and pictures circulating on X showed the slain suspects, in a relatively identifiable state, sandwiched in a Hilux trunk.
Those who claimed to have identified the said ‘actor’ through a particular picture allegedly showing him in his blood, further raised concerns among many Nigerians.
THE WHISTLER contacted the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Ejezie on the matter. He said he had only gotten wind of the circulated information on Tuesday evening and had plans to investigate the situation.
In addition, Ejezie said, “I am going to the national secretariat to check whether we have such people as members of the guild.”
Checks on the Instagram page of the said actor showed that he operates a movie production company called Ason-Rich, and is a member of the Association of Movie Practitioners (AMPRAC).
His sparse following Instagram page features movie content shared either daily or in close succession since he actively commenced movie-related content in December 2022.
While his last post on Instagram was shared on June 28, the same content was also shared via his Facebook page on June 29.
At the time of this report, some Nigerians had taken to his comment session to hurl painful statements, pointing out his connection to the reported kidnapping incident.