My sister sent assassins after me, woman alleges

The Lagos State police command has arrested four persons for allegedly attempting to assassinate a 60-year-old woman, Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon.

The suspects have allegedly confessed that they were contracted to kill the woman by her younger sister who is based in the United Kingdom. They also confessed that they were given part-payment of N500,000, leaving a balance of N4.5 million.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects, said on July 26, the Divisional Police Officer, Igando police station, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, and his team rounded up a gang that had been mobilised to assassinate Gladys.

The police boss said the crux of the matter was a case of human trafficking gone awry. “Gladys Osaigbovo-Omon and Augusta  Osaigbovo are siblings, the eldest in the family being Gladys. However, a time came when Gladys begged her younger sister, Augusta to take her daughter, Mercy, overseas for a better life.

“She obliged and took Mercy to the UK. While at the UK, it dawned on Mercy that her aunty, Augusta, is a leader of a prostitution ring and indeed, had recruited her into prostitution in London. Mercy refused to submit herself for the illicit trade prompting Augusta to give her up to police authorities in the UK.

“Somehow, Mercy wriggled out of trouble and convinced the UK police that her travail was caused by Augusta who brought her to London with job promises unknown to her that she had ulterior motives. The police now turned against Augusta and jailed her.

“When Augusta finished her jail term, she complained to her sister Gladys, that her daughter, Mercy, whom she brought from the village to help, has ruined her. Feeling that her sister was supporting her daughter, she decided to procure assassins to eliminate her in revenge.

“When the DPO in Igando, CSP Taiwo Kasumu, got a whiff of the plans to kill Gladys, he planted two agents provocateurs namely, Igbinedion Ogbevon and Success Ehiosun, to play along with the hired assassins. The gang assembled and were paid N500,000 by Augusta as a mobilisation for the job.

“Together, they went to Benin City and identified their target, Gladys, after which they returned to Lagos and requested Augusta to give them the balance of N4 million. It was at this stage that they were rounded up.”

The victim, Gladys, who was thanking God for sparing her life, said: “I also thank the police for the good job they did. I thank God for His gifts. I am a cheerful giver. When the assassins came, I offered them drinks and water, I did not even know they were coming to kill me. It was after their arrest that one of them confessed that the drinks and water I served them saved my life. One of the hoodlums reported the matter to the police.”

Edgal said he has contacted the International Police (Interpol) to wade into the matter and repatriate Augusta to Nigeria for prosecution. He said he was proud of Mercy who stood her ground and refused to join the bandwagons. He also advised parents to be careful when people offer to take their children abroad for jobs as they may be forced into prostitution.