Police arrest Bayelsa socialite, John Lyon, for kidnapping, other crimes
By Ridwan Adekunle
The Nigerian Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, has arrested a Bayelsa popular socialite, John Ewa popularly known as John Lyon, as one of the suspected kidnappers terrorising residents of the State.
According to available information, Ewa, who is from the South East, is a top member of a kidnap syndicate in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The socialite who is also an ex-banker was said to have been arrested from his house in Abuja, where it was discovered that he returns to after completing any kidnap operations.
Lyon, who was well known in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, for his lifestyle in clubs and bars, is the Chief Executive Officer of Lyon Interior Hub, the business outfits that had become popular among construction firms in Abuja and his hometown.
Allegedly using the business as a cover-up, the suspect had allegedly masterminded abduction of over two persons, obtaining N60 million from them as ransom
It was gathered that the link to the arrest of Lyon was paved by one of the latest kidnap operation they undertook.
Lyon confessed in a video to have taken part in “only two” kidnap operations.
He was said to have used his position as a banker to glean information of would-be targets.
Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction of a top executive of Premium Trust Bank in the state.
The police team, led by SP Chris Nwaogbo, was said to have arrested two suspected members of a four-man kidnap gang allegedly involved in the June 30, 2022 kidnap of Danjuma Emeije, Senior Manager, PTB, at Okaka in Yenagoa metropolis.
It was gathered that the kidnap suspects reportedly collected N60 million ransom over Emeije’s abduction.
A cybercafé owner, Kingsley Innocent, 31, an indigene of Egbu community in Etche, Rivers State, and Godlive Donald, 24, an indigene of Omoku, Rivers State, who claimed to be Rivers State police informants, were reportedly arrested by the police in connection with the banker’s abduction.
The blue Toyota Corolla vehicle used for the operation was also recovered by the police.
Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, said: “Investigation is ongoing and the police are making progress.”
The investigation eventually led to the arrest of Ewa, popularly known as John Lyon.
In several videos, Ewa has been seen displaying lavish lifestyles.
