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Suspected kidnap kingpin John Lyon behind a series of high profile kidnap incidents in Bayelsa State has been arrested by operatives of Operation Puff Adder in Abuja and the police have revealed his real identity.
As against the name Lyon John that trended on social media, the suspect’s real name is John Ewa.
John Ewa changed name to John Lyon when he was a dispatch rider at a commercial bank after he was sacked due alleged involvement in criminal activities at the bank.
While working at the bank, Ewa, it was learnt, had run several errands for his superior which gave him access to privileged information which was supplied to criminal elements to carry out operations.
After his appointment was terminated, Ewa was said to have recruited boys to run a kidnap syndicate with specialisation in kidnapping high profile residents of the state.
According to investigations, operatives of Puff Adder got on the trail of Ewa after the arrest of two suspects, Kingsley Innocent and Godlives Donald involved in the kidnap of Mr Danjuma Emeije a manager with Premium Trust Bank Yenagoa.
Emeije was kidnapped on June 30 2022 and was released after he was said to have parted with a ransom of 50 Million.
Police sources said Ewa, who runs Lyon Interior hub as cover for his criminal activities, is known for his lavish lifestyle and heavy spending at night clubs in Yenagoa.
He was said to have masterminded the kidnap of the sister to former governor Seriake Dickson and top Igbo businessmen forcing many of them to relocate from the state.
During interrogation Police sources said Ewa confessed to have been involved in only two kidnap incidents and denied being part of the gang that kidnapped Danjuma.
According to police sources, Ewa had gone to Premium Trust Bank pretending to be making inquiries on opening an account for his children but was actually gathering information about Danjuma.
Danjuma, who was also at the premises of Puff Adder insisted that he could recognise Ewa as one of the kidnappers who was on a couch while his gang members were brutalizing him.