turned Pastor, Peretun Governor, was alleged to be using his church located beside the river at Ewedogbon end of Igando, as haven for kidnappers. It was gathered that his church was allegedly used as a meeting point as well as a hiding place for kidnappers while uniforms used by militants during bank robberies were kept in his church. Crime Guard also gathered that whenever operatives were on the trail of the kidnappers, they (kidnappers) would leave the creeks to seek refuge in the church, pretending to be mentally deranged persons who were brought for spiritual healing. On the part of the 47year-old mother of seven, Ebimabo Jojo, she was discovered to own a camp at Ijegemo creeks, from where she allegedly aided kidnapers by informing them of the presence of intruders. She was also said to be running errands for them such as taking food to the kidnappers and their hostages. During preliminary investigation, Jojo confessed to have worked with Ateke, a kidnap and armed robbery kingpin who killed some policemen and civilians during a bank robbery in Lekki and Agbara areas of Lagos and Ogun states last year. Ateke however was however killed during an encounter with the police. While being paraded by Lagos state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, yesterday, Peretun Governor, popularly called Baba Beauty, in an interview with Crime Guard, admitted that he was involved in illegal bunkering but denied having anything to do with the late Ateke . According to him “I do not know anything about kidnapping, Stanley, a boat operator within the axis does. My sin was that I created a way in the river at Ewedogbon end when I was a boat operator. But the Lord called me into ministry and the road links to my church , while Stanley’s road links the militants’ creeks. At a point I had financial problem and went into bunkering. I bought 25 litres of petrol for N1200 and sold for N1800 or N1500 and I usually bought 10 to 15 jerry cans. At a point, I was arrested by the DSS and warned to desist from the illicit business. Since then, I have been facing my church’s business. At times, the militants would tie their boats close to my church but I don’t know any of them”, the Ondo state born suspect maintained. Visit to militant creeks On her part, the mother of seven, Jojo, in whose camp one of the boats used by the militants during the Agbara bank robbery operation was discovered, said she only bought petroleum products from militants/kidnappers. She said “I am not a kidnapper . I only buy petrol from the militants. I knew Ateke before he was killed by the Police. I usually went to their creeks to buy the product. They were usually armed and they lived at the Ijegemo creeks. Nobody dared visit the creeks without invitation. I went alone, strictly to buy petroleum product. There are so many wooden houses in the creeks. After buying the product, I would paddle the gallons in my boat to my own camp, where I would stay until it is night before going to the waterside to sell to ready buyers. I usually bought 50 litres for N2000 and sold it for 3000”. Asked what the boat that was used by the militants in some bank robberies was doing in her camp, Jojo responded in pidgin English thus: “ I no knooo. Na so I see am”. Commenting on the arrest, Owoseni said “governor as he calls himself is the leader of kidnappers in Igando. The boat he uses to pick his victims was also recovered . With his arrest we will get more of his members”.
Vanguard
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