By Kamsi Anayo
Police Parade Abuja-Based Notorious Kidnapper, John Ewa, Alias ‘John Lyon’ in Yenagoa
The Police in Bayelsa State has paraded kidnap kingpin, John Ewa, alias Lion, who was arrested in Abuja.
Ewa who was responsible for high-profile kidnappings in Bayelsa state was paraded alongside three members of his gang by the police at the Police Officers Mess, Yenagoa Bayelsa state.
The kidnap suspect was arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder in Abuja, after which his real identity was revealed.
As against the trick of the name Lyon John that trended on social media, the suspect’s real name was discovered to be John Ewa as reported by the Network.
The Network reported that John Ewa changed his name to John Lyon when he was a dispatch rider at a commercial bank after he was sacked due to alleged involvement in criminal activities at the bank.
Ewa, it was learnt, while working at the bank, had handled several errands for his superior which gave him access to privileged information which was supplied to criminal elements to carry out operations.
After his appointment was terminated, Ewa was said to have recruited boys to run a kidnap syndicate with specialisation in kidnapping high profile residents of the state.
According to investigations, operatives of Puff Adder got on the trail of Ewa after the arrest of two suspects, Kingsley Innocent and Godlives Donald involved in the kidnap of Mr Danjuma Emeije a manager with Premium Trust Bank Yenagoa.
Emeije was kidnapped on June 30 2022 and was released after he was said to have parted with a ransom of 50 million.
Police sources said Ewa, who runs Lyon Interior hub as cover for his criminal activities, is known for his lavish lifestyle and heavy spending at night clubs in Yenagoa.
He was said to have masterminded the kidnap of the sister to former Governor Seriake Dickson and top Igbo businessmen forcing many of them to relocate from the state.
During interrogation Police sources said Ewa confessed to have been involved in only two kidnap incidents and denied being part of the gang that kidnapped Danjuma.
Recall that the suspected kidnapper’s story first trended on social media on Sunday. In a viral video, Ewa was seen in handcuffs wearing a boxer at the premises of Operation Puff Adder Yenagoa.
The suspected kidnapper, in the viral video, was seen begging the Police officers to forgive him noting that his wife just gave birth
“I was not involved in your kidnap (referring to the Danjuma). There is a guy they always call for a job, his name is Millow. Please, sir, forgive me. I was not involved in your matter. Please Sir my wife just gave birth”
The Police said Ewa had gone to Premium Trust Bank pretending to be making inquiries on opening an account for his children but was actually gathering information about Danjuma.
Danjuma, who was also at the premises of Puff Adder insisted that he could recognise Ewa as one of the kidnappers who was on a couch while his gang members were brutalizing him.
A Police source said a close friend of Ewa, who is an in-law of a governorship candidate of one of the major political parties in the state, is also in Police custody answering questions on the kidnap incidents in the state.
The Press Briefing:
PRESS BRIEFING OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, BAYELSA STATE COMMAND, CP BEN NOBOLISA OKOLO fdc, HELD ON MONDAY 26TH SETEMBER 2022 AT THE STATE HEADQUARTERS, YENAGOA.
Gentlemen of the Press
I warmly welcome you to this press briefing and parade of suspects to showcase our modest achievements in fighting crime in Bayelsa State.
In recent times the Command was confronted with reported cases of kidnaping, armed robbery and cultism. I re-jig the security strategy with a special focus on tackling kidnapping and armed robbery. The strategy has paid off with the recent arrest of members of a notorious kidnapping gang by operatives of Operation Restore Peace. This gang has been responsible for over ten (10) high profile kidnaping in the State over a period of seven (7) years.
KIDNAPPING
On 8th December, 2020 one Akeeb Oladele Olushola ‘m’ 48 years a Manager of a new generation Bank was kidnap at his residence at Old Commissioners Quarters Opolo, he was released on the 12th December after paying a ransom of Eighty (N80) Million Naira.
Similarly, Danjuma Omeje 41 years a Manager of a new generation Bank in Yenagoa was kidnap at his residence at Okaka, Yenagoa, on 30th July 2022, he was released on 14th July 2022 after paying a ransom of 60 million naira. Thirty (N30) Million Naira cash and US Dollar equivalent of Thirty (N30) Million Naira.
Operatives of Operation Restore Peace through painstaking investigation arrested the following suspects;
1. Emmanuel Charles Angase ‘m’ 37 years, a native of Azuzuama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA, the leader of the kidnapping gang. He operates a kidnapping camp at Sunikiri creek near Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government Area with his second in command one Gbalipre Gamage now at large. Police operatives recovered a brand new Toyota Avalon he bought for his wife with the proceed of ransom he collected.
The gang leader Emmanuel Charles Angase has confessed that on 30th June 2022 at about 06:00 hours, himself, John Ewa and others at large accosted Danjuma Omeje at the entrance of his house at Okaka, kidnap him and fled in a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY.
They took the victim to his camp at Sunikiri Oluasiri, and release him on 14th July 2022 after collecting Sixty 60 million ransom. The suspect also confessed to the kidnap of Akeeb Oladele Olusola a banker and Nancy Keme Dickson, who was kidnap on 26th December 2015. He also confessed to the kidnap of Chinonso Eze and other Igbo Business men.
2. John Ikechukwu Ewa ‘m’ 30 years aka John Lion, a native of Eruan Community in Boki LGA, Cross River State, known for flamboyant lifestyle on Social Media, a former cleaner with a new generation Bank, confessed to have collected Ten (10) Thousand US Dollars from the ransom collected in the kidnap of Danjuma Omeje.
3. Innocent Kingsley ‘m’ 31 years, a native of Egbu Community Itche LGA, Rivers State. The owner of a Blue Toyota Corolla Car with REG NO KJA 225 AY and one Timi Werikumo ‘m’ 21 years, a native of Azuzuama Community Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State.
All the suspects will be charge to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Bayelsa State Police Command under my watch has firmly resolved to make the State uncomfortable for criminals. Our Officers are determined more than ever to rid the State of criminals’ elements and to ensure our communities are safer for businesses and economic activities to thrive.
Credit: THE NETWORK.
