Suspected Kidnapper Spends Ransom on Children’s School Fees, Feeding

A suspected kidnapper, Tosin Oke, also known as “Old Soldier,” has confessed to spending his share of the ransom on his children’s education and household expenses.

Oke, who was part of a six-man criminal gang that kidnapped an oil magnate in Ajah, Lagos, said he used part of the ransom to pay his children’s school fees and for feeding. He claimed to have saved the rest in his bank account.

“I used part of the money for my children’s school fees, feeding, and saved the rest in my account. I regret getting involved in this; I’m not even sure if I was bewitched into joining them,” Oke said.

The oil magnate was kidnapped at his dredging site and taken away in a speedboat to an undisclosed location via the waterways. The heavily armed kidnappers fired shots into the air to deter anyone from approaching them.

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The victim’s family managed to raise N42 million, which they converted into $30,000 as demanded by the kidnappers, along with an additional N100,000 in cash. The ransom was delivered to the gang, but three of the kidnappers were eventually apprehended in their hideout after dividing the ransom.

Oke, who had been involved in bunkering and kidnapping for a long time, admitted that he had used his share of the ransom to address his family’s needs. He denied that the mansion he built in the Badagry area of Lagos was solely funded by his criminal activities.