The Kwara police commissioner also disclosed the arrest of two other suspected kidnappers in Oke-Ode in Ifelodun local government who had collected N500,000 as ransom from their victim.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Police in Kwara have arrested a gang of suspected kidnappers who allegedly operated in the axis of Ekiti, Kogi, and Kwara states.
Kwara state police commissioner, Paul Odama, paraded the suspects at the state police headquarters in Ilorin, noting that they were arrested at Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, who are three in number, were arrested after attacking two men on a journey from Egbe in Kogi State to Eruku in Kwara State in an attempt to kidnap them.
Odama explained that the suspects were trailed to Oro-Ago after their two Eruku-bound victims escaped their attacks and reported them to the police at Eruku.
The police boss said that investigations revealed that one of the victims of the gang in Ekiti was an officer of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) whom they killed while another in that state was a man from whom they collected N6 million as ransom before they released him.
He stated: “On 9/11/2022 at about 1745hrs, One Mr. Shina Luke Abiodun ‘m’ of Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, and one other, while riding on a motorcycle on their way from Egbe in Kogi, State were accosted at Koro village close to Eruku town by men numbering about six, who emerged from the bush armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.
“The hoodlums opened fire on them and they sustained gunshot injuries. They however escaped the attack and ran to the Anti-Kidnapping patrol team stationed at Eruku town. The team moved to the scene and one Tecno Phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the phone by the investigators led to the arrest of the kingpin and two of his gang members in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara state on 20/12/2022.
“The suspects confessed during interrogation to have been responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara States respectively.
“One of their victims and his six-year-old son came from Ekiti State to identify and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects and were released after payment of six million Naira.
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“The suspects also confessed to have also killed one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu of the NSCDC attached to Ekiti Command.
“Further Investigation into the matter led to the recovery of two locally made pistols. Efforts are also ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang and recovery of the remaining firearms in their possession.”
He gave the names of the three arrested suspects as Babagida Baguda, Bashir Yakuba and Mohammed Umaru.
The Kwara police commissioner also disclosed the arrest of two other suspected kidnappers in Oke-Ode in Ifelodun local government who had collected N500,000 as ransom from their victim.
He stated: “On 12/12/2022, intelligence available to the Command indicated that one Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ 15 yrs old has been kidnapped along Oke-Ode – Share road, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State.
“This prompted the Commissioner of Police to dispatch a team of State Intelligent Bureau (SIB) and conventional Police from Oke-Ode Division. Diligent investigation led to the arrest of one Garuba Abubakar ‘m’ A.K.A. Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam ‘m’ of Ile Nam Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State who are members of the kidnapping syndicate, they confessed to have been the collector of the Five Hundred Thousand Naira ransom paid by the victim.
“The leader of the gang one Chairman Rabiu ‘m’ who is presently at large is said to be in possession of the gang firearm and always in custody of all ransom collected as confessed by two arrested suspects. Efforts are on top gear to get him arrested.”
He said that all the suspects would soon be charged in court.
