Police Probe Inmate Extorting Women From Kirikiri Prison

The Lagos State Police have opened investigation into a case of how inmates mastermind the extortion of young women from inside the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.

The investigation is sequel to the arrest of one Smart Richard, an ex-convict who had served a five-year jail term.

The suspect alleged that the mastermind of the messages is one Kingsley Richard, currently serving in Kirikiri medium correctional centre, Lagos.

In his confessional statement, Smart Richard alleged that his elder brother, Kingsley, was responsible for sending messages to would-be victims.

“I source the numbers of would-be victims, which I send to my brother Kingsley, who is currently serving jail term.

“The numbers belong to young women. Kingsley would send threat-to-life messages to the owners of the telephone numbers demanding for the payment of a certain amount of money from them.

“I will pick up the cash demanded from the victim at an agreed-upon destination. I share the proceeds with my brother, who is still in jail,” he added.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, said Smart was arrested based on a complaint received from a couple in December.

Alabi said they had been receiving threat-to-life and alleged monitoring of movement from GSM no 08165270517.

“Investigation led to the arrest of one Smart Richard who hails from Delta State. Smart is an ex-convict who served a five-year jail term at Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.

“The suspect identified one Kingsley Richard, who is currently serving a jail term at Kirikiri Correctional Center, as his associate.

“Further investigation revealed that Smart collated telephone numbers and operated an online wallet account through which they collected their blackmail money.

“Kingsley, while still in prison, sent the threat messages and made threat calls to the collated numbers. The Command is currently working with the Nigerian Correctional Service towards extending the investigation to Kingsley Richard,” he added.