How suspected notorious kingpin John Lyon terrorised Bayelsa for seven years

Bayelsa Police Command on Monday in Yenagoa paraded an Abuja socialite, John Eka Ewa aka John Lyon, alleged to have colluded with others to terrorise the State for years through kidnap of top bankers, businessmen and prominent persons.

The flamboyant suspected kidnapper was paraded with some of his gang members and other criminals by Commissioner of Police, Mr Ben Nebolisa Okolo, at a briefing in Yenagoa. Other suspects were paraded in connection with armed robbery, cult activities, pipeline vandalism, murders, among others.

The parade of John Ewa confirmed The NATION report that the police authorities in the State had perfected plans to parade him and others. Parading the suspects, CP Okoli said the kidnap gang was responsible for over 10 high profile kidnaps in the State over a period of seven years and became super rich from the proceeds of ransoms running into millions.

The CP said the operatives of Operation Restore Peace, through painstaking investigation, arrested the following kidnap suspects: Emmanuel Charles Angase, 37 years, a native of Azuzuama community, Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa, the leader of the kidnapping gang.

“Angese operates a kidnapping camp at Sunikiri creek near Oluasiri in Nembe LGA 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 proceeds of ransom he collected.

“The gang leader, Angase, has confessed that on 30th June 2022 at about 0600 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 plate-number KJA 225 AY.

“They took the victim to his camp at Sunikiri Oluasiri, and released him on 14th July 2022 after collecting N60m ransom. The suspect also confessed to the kidnap of Akeeb Oladele Olusola a banker and Nancy Keme Dickson, who was kidnapped on 26th December 2015. He also confessed to the kidnap of Chinonso Eze and other Igbo businessmen.

“John Ewa, 30 years, aka John Lyon, 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 $10,000 (TenThousand US Dollars) from the ransom collected in the kidnap of Danjuma Omeje.

“Innocent Kingsley, 31 years, a native of Egbu community Etche 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 of Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State.”

The CP, shedding light on the atrocities of the gang, said: “On 8th December, 2020 one Akeeb Oladele Olushola, male, 48, a Manager of a new generation bank was kidnapped at his residence at Old Commissioners’ Quarters, Opolo. He was released on the 12th December 2020 after paying a ransom of N80m.

“Similarly, Danjuma Omeje, 41, a Manager of a new generation bank in Yenagoa was kidnapped at his residence at Okaka, Yenagoa, on 30th June, 2022. He was released on 14th July 2022 after paying a ransom of N60 million, N30m cash and US Dollars equivalent of N30m.”

On cultism and murder, Okoli said on June 3, 2022 at about 2000 hours, operatives of ORP, responded to a distress call that there was a cult clash between Greenlanders and Bobos Cult groups at Obele Street, Yenagoa. He said on arrival at the scene, the police team met some suspects attacking one Kenus Ibomo and on sighting the police, the suspects ran away, they were pursued to their hideout at Aritalin.

He said: ” The following suspects were arrested: one Richard Derigha ‘m’ 36 years, Charles Francis ‘m’ 25 years, Collins Ugochukwu ‘m’ 28 years, Timipa Perewari ‘m’ 22 years and Clement Demepo ‘m’ 23 years.

“They all confessed to the killing of the victim and being membership of Bobos Cult group. A locally made pistol, Black Beret and other cult insignias were recovered from the suspects.”