- His real name is John Ikechukwu Ewa, also known as John Eka Ewa.
- He’s from Eruah in the Boki LGA in Cross River.
- He said “Ewa” translates to “Lion”
- He said he was a cleaner at Sterling Bank.
- He was arrested by Operation Puff Adder in Abuja.
- His gang is accused of 10 kidnappings in Bayelsa.
- Two of his victims paid a combined N140 million in ransom to his group.
- Although his cohorts come from Rivers and Bayelsa, he hails from Cross River.
Who is John Lyon: The Recap
John Lyon is an alias for John Ikechukwu Ewa, also known as John Eka Ewa. John Ikechukwu Ewa was a former bank staff in Abuja, Nigeria, who later became a well-known socialite in the city.
John Lyon entered this world on December 22nd, 1986. His birthday is December 22nd. He was born in the Nigerian state of Cross River, which is located in the south.
John Lyon was born and raised in the Eruah hamlet, which is located in the Boki local government in the state of Cross River.
He explained that his name, “Ewa,” when translated to English would be “Lion.” Which is most likely why he used “Lyon” as his surname on social media rather than “Ewa,” which is his actual surname.
John Lyon’s Career: The Clarification
John Lyon stated unequivocally that he was employed as a cleaner at a Nigerian commercial bank known as Sterling Bank. He said that he had left the bank in the year 2003.
He asserted that he had obtained his degree from the University of Calabar, which is located in the state of Cross River.
John Lyon, whose illegal activities are hidden by the front company he operates, Lion Interior Hub, is well-known in Yenagoa for his extravagant spending habits and love of the city’s swanky nightlife.
John Lyon’s Arrest: The Crime & His Accomplices
He was apprehended in Abuja on suspicion of being the mastermind behind a string of high-profile kidnappings in Bayelsa State. On Monday, he was paraded along with three other members of his gang at the Police Officers Mess in Yenagoa, which is located in Bayelsa State.
John Lyon was taken into custody by agents of Operation Puff Adder in Abuja. He was then transported to Yenagoa, which is the capital of Bayelsa State, where he was displayed before the public.
He was paraded with three other gang members: Emmanuel Charles Angase, 37, Timi Werikumo, 21, both from Azuzuma, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, and Innocent Kingsley, 31, from Egbu Community in Etche, Rivers State. The rest of the gang is still at large.
John Lyon’s gang is accused of over ten kidnappings in Bayelsa State over seven years.
A man named Akeeb Oladele Olushola, 48, a manager at a new generation bank, was kidnapped on the 8th of December 2020 from his home in Old Commissioners Quarters Opolo, Yenagoa, and was only released on the 12th after his family paid a ransom of N80 million, which was believed to have been paid by members of John Lyon’s gang.
Danjuma Omeje, 41 years old, a manager of a new generation bank in Yenagoa, was taken hostage at his residence in Okaka, Yenagoa, on the 30th of July 2022. He was released on the 14th of July 2022 after paying a ransom of 60 million naira. The abduction is believed to have been carried out by John Lyon’s gang.
John Lyon’s Kidnapping Accomplices: What We Know
Emmanuel Charles Angase
He is the head of the abduction group, and he is 37 years old. He comes from the Azuzuama Community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. His second in command, one Gbalipre Gamage, who is currently at large, assists him in running a kidnapping camp in Sunikiri Creek, which is located close to Oluasiri in the Nembe Local Government Area. Police operatives were able to retrieve a brand new Toyota Avalon that the suspect had purchased for his wife with the ransom money that he had received.
The ringleader of the criminal gang has admitted that on June 30, 2022, at approximately 0600 hours, he, John Lyon, and others who remain at large confronted Danjuma Omeje at the entrance of his house in Okaka, kidnapped him, and then fled in a blue Toyota Corolla car bearing the licence plate number KJA 225 AY. They transported the victim to his camp in Sunikiri Oluasiri and freed him on the 14th of July 2022 after receiving a ransom payment of sixty and sixty million dollars. The suspect allegedly admitted to the kidnapping of a banker named Akeeb Oladele Olusola and Nancy Keme Dickson, who is the younger sister of former Governor Senator Seriake Dickson who was taken hostage on December 26, 2015. In addition to this, he admitted to being responsible for the kidnapping of Chinonso Eze and several other Igbo businesspeople.
Innocent Kingsley
He was born in the Egbu community in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. He is currently 31 years old.
Etche is an LGA in Rivers State, one of the state’s 23 LGAs. It is also a component of the Rivers East Senatorial District and one of Rivers State’s 13 federal constituencies. Okehi serves as Etche’s political epicentre and home to the Council.
Timi Werikumo
He was born in the Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, and is currently 21 years old.
The Southern Ijaw LGA is located in the southern Nigerian state of Bayelsa. Oporoma, sometimes known as Osokoma, is home to its administrative offices. A little under 60 kilometres of shoreline on the Bight of Benin are present in this area. The name “Izon” refers to both the people and their language. Religions like Christianity and Traditionalism are widely practised in the LGA as well.
Upon completion of their investigation, the Nigerian police say they would file charges against all of the suspects.
