How Fraudsters Disguised as Assassins in Attempt to Defraud Journalist; Demand N20 million Ransom

Suspected fraudsters disguising as assassins have threatened to eliminate the founder of Penpushing Media, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, but promised to spare his life if he could cough out N20million.

The gang, led by a person who identified himself as Femi Poly, called Kayode-Adedeji at about 7.30a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, saying he had been contracted to eliminate him. But that he had a rethink about the operation, and demanded a ransom instead.

“We have your photograph,” the criminal reportedly said on phone. “We are assigned by somebody close to you to kill you but we observed that you are an elderly man, and decided not to carry out the assignment but to reach out to you if you can offer us N20million.”

The gang operated with mobile phone numbers: +2349036869898, +2348080858130.

When asked who was their sponsor and what was the reason given to them to warrant the assignation of the journalist, the leader pledged to provide the information once the gang gets the N20million ransom.

“The person is your close associate, who told us he had issues with you,” he said, asking: “but can you keep it to yourself if we reveal the identity, which we shall do that after payment of the N20 million?”

When the journalist told them he had no such amount, the gang said they would reduce it to N500, 000. The journalist told them he could still not meet their fresh demand. Then, they said they would further reduce it to N150, 000.

Again, the journalist told them he would not be able to raise the N150,000 immediately, but could had N10,000 to spare as at the time of the conversation.

Strangely, the gang said he should send the N10, 000, as part-payment. They immediately provided an Access Bank account with number 0002884692 with the name *Aminu Adamu*.

The journalist promptly reported the matter to the police, and they have commenced investigation.