By Lagos, Nigeria – Barely a few hours after police forces mowed down nine notorious billionaire kidnappers who had long terrorized Lagos and its environs, it has emerged that a popular Nollywood actor and producer based in Port Harcourt, identified simply as Odee, was among those killed in the police encounter.
Initial skepticism over the report continues to linger; however, it has been authoritatively confirmed that the actor and producer was one of the billionaire kidnappers killed by detectives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad in the Ladipo area of Lagos. Sunday Vanguard learned that since the news broke, detectives have been making frantic efforts, carrying out both electronic and intelligence investigations to identify the kidnappers they confronted at the popular Ladipo spare parts market where they attempted to kidnap a wealthy businessman.
Further investigations revealed shocking details when police recovered four mobile phones from the pockets of the deceased kidnappers and other vital personal items. Police sources said the first shocking discovery made by detectives was that the two vehicles used by the kidnappers – a Lexus 350 Jeep and a 4Runner Jeep – belonged to the actor, Odee. Both vehicles were discovered to be their operational vehicles and were duly registered in his name.
Additionally, the two mobile telephones they used for operations were also registered in the name of the actor but contained pictures of two yet-to-be-identified men. One of the phones, sources said, was used to coordinate their nefarious activities, and every other relevant communication regarding the kidnappers’ operations was in his name.
Sunday Vanguard also gathered that while detectives are working hard to unravel the true identities and connections of the kidnappers killed during the encounter, investigations are paying off as they have begun to piece together the entire operation network. Further intelligence has revealed that Odee and his gang were living together in some suburbs of Lagos. However, they had multiple hideouts where they operated from, making it difficult for the police to track their movements until the fateful encounter at Ladipo.
