Businessman kidnapped while in Lagos for cross-over service

A 47-year-old Port Harcourt based businessman, identified simply as Vincent, has allegedly been kidnapped in Lagos State after he came to celebrate cross over service with a pastor friend.

According to a family member, Vincent was abducted on December, 30, 2016, moments after he entered Lagos. He was believed to have been abducted at Jibowu Motor Park, Yaba area of the metropolis.

It also gathered that Vincent came into Lagos on that fateful day, in order to attend a cross over service at Rapture Claimant Church of God headquarters, located at Iyana -Ipaja area of the state. Police said that Vincent’s pastor friend is in charge of the church.

When Vincent’s cousin, who was supposed to host him in Lagos, waited endlessly for him, he became worried.

The cousin, who refused to give his name, said: “He was supposed to come to Lagos with flight, but he missed it. He decided to come by road. When he got to Ore, Ondo State, he called me. The last time we spoke was when he got to Jibowu Park. I couldn’t get him anymore.”

Sensing something was wrong; the cousin went to report at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Command, Ikeja.

A police source said: “One Wale called the wife of Vincent with his phone. The Wale told her to go to Lagos State Traffic Management Authority’s office (LASTMA), Oshodi that her husband’s corpse, bible and luggage were there. When the victim’s wife, family members and a team of policemen, went to LASTMA’s office, they couldn’t find anything. The policemen combed the area, but still couldn’t find anything.”

  

SARS investigators decided to start tracking Vincent’s phone. They narrowed their search down to people he called immediately he entered Lagos. It was discovered that Vincent spoke with the said Wale and a pastor. The pastor was immediately arrested, but Wale has remained elusive.

The police source further said: “Since the businessman’s abduction, his wife, Esther, has relocated to Lagos, searching for her husband.”

The cousin further said: “What surprised us was that the pastor, who was arrested for interrogation by the police, had been released without completion of the investigation. He was released without our knowledge. We’re appealing to the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to assist us in locating Vincent. Vincent is the bread winner of our family. Every one of us looks up to him for assistance.”