SSS Raises Hope on Bamigbetan’s Early Return

Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan

Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) Wednesday night raised the hope of members of the family of kidnapped Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, that it is on a red-hot-trail of the politician’s abductors and that it was optimistic of the council boss’ early return.

This optimism comes as a foreign student of the American International School, Lekki, was Wednesday seized with his driver in a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

A source at the SSS, who did not want his name in print, confirmed that the service was already on the trail of the kidnappers, adding that if all things work out accordingly, the victim would soon return to the warm embrace of his family.

He said: "We are all careful not to release anything that will jeopardise investigations at this point but just know that we are on their trail and would soon round them up. We are also working in conjunction with the police to unravel this case."

He however declined to state if the kidnap was perpetrated by an insider like most previous kidnap cases, rather he said when the suspects are caught, they would be able to ascertain that during interrogation.

While accusing fingers have been pointed at the victim's political opponents and his driver who was in the car with him, the source said they would have all the answers once the suspects are in the net.

When contacted, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, an assistant superintendent of police, said the command’s investigations were ongoing.

While declining to speak on the latest development in terms of rescue operations, Ozoani said disclosing such would jeopardise the progress they had made so far in tracking the suspects.

He said: "All I can tell you is that investigations are in top gear and that we are on a fast track. We have made considerable progress as at now."

Contrary to claims that only the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was deployed for the operation, Ozoani said all the relevant departments and sections are involved in the investigation.

Also, in a telephone conversation confirmed tha the Public Relations Officer of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Kingsley Umoh, debunked claims that the service was part of the investigation.

He said: "We are aware of the kidnap like everyone else but we don't have any direct involvement in rescue operations as at now because it is purely a police issue.

"The role we are playing is in support of the civil authorities except we are called to assist. However, I can't speak on the involvement of the Operation Mesa which is a joint security outfit of all the services."

Meanwhile, an update on Bamigbetan's Facebook page reads: "Apologies to my friends and subscribers for the silence on this page in the last one week. Sometimes, you retreat to review the performance of your communications strategy and re-focus.

"My posts here will be available on my blog: www.kehindebami-gbetan.com and my twitter pages so that more people can have access to the good news from Ejigbo LCDA.

"I also hope to re-launch the local government website- www.ejigboonlin-e.org which is being re-designed for more effective information dissemination."

Hours after the posts, the writer, political scientist and politician who listed listening to music, dancing and going to the theatre as his hobbies, was kidnapped, inevitably putting his promise at a hold until he regains his freedom.

The foreign student’s incident is on the heels of the abduction of a Lebanese and a Briton three weeks ago.

The victim, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained as at press time, was said to be an 11th grade student of the school, before he was abducted in the morning on his way to school.

It was gathered that the student was in an SUV at Ikoyi when he was allegedly abducted alongside his driver.

Although the victim's parents were said to be presently out of the country, it was gathered that the incident was reported at the nearby police division by the parents’ domestic staff members.

In their statement at the station, the members of staff said the boy and the driver were last seen Wednesday morning after they left for school, adding that they became worried after the driver did not return home by afternoon.

They added that their worries were compounded when they contacted the school authority and were told that the boy never reported at the school “since morning”.

It was gathered the car was later traced and located through the tracking device installed on it at the Palms Mall, Lekki.

Also, the victim’s school bag, his laptop and other writing materials were found intact in the vehicle, thereby fuelling speculations that he was abducted.

However, when contacted, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Ozoani, said he was not aware of the development as the incident had not been reported to the police.

He also said he was not aware of the kidnap of Edu, who was seized on Sunday alongside her driver near the Redeemed Christian Church of God, beside Ozone Cinema, Yaba.