By Evelyn Usman, Ebere Aham, Peter Ofili & Amara Uche

LAGOS—There is tension in Isheri area of Lagos State, where four residents of Lekki Gardens were, weekend, abducted by eight masked men in military camouflage, as some residents have deserted their homes for fear of possible invasion by the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the search for the four men took a new dimension, yesterday, with the introduction of aerial patrol of creeks around the axis by the Police Air Wing of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Lagos State Police Command.

It was further gathered that the weekend’s incident was the second in two months in the area.

When Vanguard visited the area, yesterday, the few residents who were still in their houses kept mum. Their silence, it was reliably gathered, followed alleged warning by the kidnappers to come for whoever would release information that will give them away to police.

Vanguard also gathered that the kidnappers were still making contacts with families of the victims. However, none of them divulged the nature of the conversation with the abductors, as they also informed that they were under strict instruction not to do so.

When approached, a relative of one of the abducted men, said: “Nobody can tell you anything concerning those held hostage. We are under strict directive not to do so as that could jeopardise the safety of the abducted persons.

“Yes, they have been calling and the ransom has been reduced. That is all I can say for now. I cannot tell you how much. They also assured us that our people were in good condition of health and that one of them, who is hypertensive, had been given some drugs.

“They also added that their safety depended on how and what we say to the media and the police.”

Police intensify search

Meanwhile, over 100 policemen were sighted patrolling the creeks, while helicopters were conducting aerial patrol.

The policemen, as gathered, had condoned off the adjourning waterways. About 30 other policemen, among who was the Commander, RRS, Mr. Tunji Disu, were carrying out land patrol.

Heavily armed policemen in two patrol vans from the Lagos and Zone 2 Commands, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, were stationed at the estate’s gate.

‘My narrow escape’

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he narrowly escaped being a victim of the kidnap.

He explained: “That morning (Saturday), I had put on my sportswear and pair of canvass. But as I stepped out of the house, I had a running stomach and quickly dashed to the toilet.

“I had barely reached the venue of the exercise, when I heard gun shots. I never knew it was from where the kidnapping was taking place until I saw people running down the road.

“I did not wait for anyone to tell me that all was not well; I took to my heels.

“It was when I got home that news of the incident filtered round. I know all of those that were abducted. I would have been one of them but for the stomach upset. I don’t think I would have been able to run away from the kidnappers because of my waist pain.”

Another resident, a private guard at the estate, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “I saw when they started their routine exercise. Before we knew it, some men, in military camouflage, all masked, came in from nowhere and started firing. We all laid flat until the gun shots ended.”

2 months ago

Vanguard was informed that a similar incident occurred two month ago in the area where a man was abducted. The victim, with an unknown identity, was said to have been released after N500,000 ransom was paid.

Disclosing this to Vanguard, a resident, who was driving out of the estate, said: “I would not have spoken to you if you had met me in the estate because we perceive that the kidnappers are even around us, taking note of everything one says.

“This is not the first time this is happening. It happened two months ago. We are the cause of this because it started immediately we cleared a canal that leads to other areas.

“We did it so that flood can flow into the river, not knowing we were only inviting kidnappers.”