They specialize in hijacking trucks with good along Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway. The syndicate comprising men usually connive with truck drivers to divert goods which they sell in the black market. They “maja” (kill) anyone who obstruct them in their nefarious activity.
A few weeks ago, they way laid a tanker ferrying diesel from Warri, Delta State, when it got to Ore, Ondo State for a short rest as usual. This particular hijack proved to be their nemesis, as the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) of Lagos State went after them. In an 11 day operation, spanning Akure, Ore, Benin City, Sagamu and Lagos, RRS operatives arrested two of their hit – men on Ondo – Ore Road.
The men, Gbenga Akinboyewa, 33, a diesel mechanic and Obinna Ofunue, 32, a timber contractor, were allegedly engaged by the syndicate to eliminate, one Tunji Ajayi, an oil company representative escorting 45,000 litre diesel from Warri Delta State.
Ajayi, who did not to travel at night decided to rest in Ore before proceeding to Sango, Ogun State, where the diesel was meant to be discharged.
It was here that the suspected hit – men intercepted him. Together with a compromised driver, the three men overpowered him before they “maja – am”(their code name for kill).
Akinboyewa, Ofunue and the truck driver, Amara, believing Ajayi was dead after hitting him on the head with a hammer, dropped his body in a ditch beside the road.
Akinboyewa and Ofunue (reportedly not their first operation) got their asking price, N500, 000 for the elimination of Ajayi, while the 45,000 litre of diesel was diverted to Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ajah and Epe, where the product was sold to waiting buyers.
Tunji Ajayi, a tanker escort hammered and thought to be dead by the hijackers
As fate would have it, Tunji Ajayi survived the attack, RRS arrested the syndicate along with many others over the diversion of the diesel and 410 bags of flour believed to belong to Dangote Flour taken almost in a similar circumstance.
The three suspected syndicate who initiated diversions of the products were Chibueze Nnamdi, a building materials dealer in Ore, Ondo State, Edwin Ozor, an oil dealer and one Shedrach (at large).
Others arrested in connection with petroleum product were: Sadiku Ganinu, Oluchukwu Oyema and Gbenga Aliyu.
Those equally arrested in connection with the diverted 410 bags of flour were: Chigozie Obi, Feranmi Michael and Adedeji Kehinde.
All suspects have been transferred from RRS to SCID, Panti for further investigations.
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