Alaba Market Big Boy, Azu Caught In Kidnap Operation

One of the big boys in the popular Alaba Int'l Market in Lagos, Azuoma Nwabugoh, popular known as Azu, has been arrested along with members of his kidnap gang who are also apprentice boys in his shops.

"My boss (Azu) brought the guns and we went to kidnap the victim. My boss drove the man to an undisclosed place in the man's jeep while I followed in another car."

"It was when my boss returned to Lagos that he gave me the victim's vehicle to sell to Arinze. Arinze gave me N50,000 and I handed it over to my boss.My boss then gave me N30,000."

This is the confession of one of Azu's apprentice, while owning up to the crime. He confirmed that it was him and Azu that executed the kidnapping. But Azu denied it.

Men of the Lagos State Police Command recently smashed a kidnapping syndicatein the Okokomaiko area of the state led by popular Alaba Market big boy, Azu.

Police authorities gave the names of the suspects as:Azuoma Nwabugoh, Chimobi Onuoha, Moses Okoh, Nwachukwu Nwandike and Michael Arinze.

The suspects were arrested after policemen attached to Ilemba Hausa Division recovered a vehicle belonging to a kidnap victim, Obinna Okpara, who was locked inside a toilet for over one week.

After kidnapping the victim, Azu and his boys allegedly sold the car to one Michael Arinze.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said: "On August 8, 2013, around 8.45pm, one Obinna Okpara was kidnapped in front of his house at Awka in Anambra State. He was released on September 9, 2013, after a ransom was paid."

His vehicle was traced to the house of one Michael Arinze. Arinze said he bought the vehicle from one of the suspects.

Azu and his boys have been transferred to SARS.

But Azu is claiming innocence: "All these allegations against me are false. I don't know the victim. I am a trader...most of the suspects you see are my apprentices."