According to the Kwara police commissioner, most of the suspected kidnappers are in their early 20s.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Kwara State Police Command has arrested nine suspected kidnappers who operated in Ilorin, the state capital, and in Moroo Local Government Area.
The state police commissioner, Paul Odama, paraded the suspects before journalists at the police headquarters in Ilorin on Monday.
The suspected kidnappers most of whom are in their early 20s include seven who operated in the fringes of Ilorin, and two who camped around Bode-Saadu in Moroo LGA.
Odama said the suspects from Bode-Saadi were arrested after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area mobilised police, hunters and vigilante personnel to the bush where they engaged the kidnappers in exchange of gun fires.
He explained that similar operation was carried out in Eyenkorin where the DPO there also mobilised his men alongside vigilante and hunters to the bush before arresting the other suspects who operated in Eyenkorin/Okoolowo axis, a fringe area of Ilorin.
Odama explained that five suspects were initially arrested in the area after which another were arrested in another operation.
The Kwara police commissioner disclosed that the two who were later arrested allegedly confessed to have been the kidnappers of two residents of Oseoluwa in the Okoolowo area who were recently rescued by the police.
He stated: “On the 22/1/2023 at about 0900HRS an intelligence available to the Divisional Police Officer, Bode Sadu to the effect that suspected kidnappers were in the bush along Balogun area, Bode Sadu in preparation to strike. The DPO mobilized vigilantees, hunters and police men, stormed the bush and they engaged the kidnappers, during exchange of gun-fire, three of the kidnappers were neutralized while two suspects Lagi Bala ‘M’ and Iliasu Idris ‘M’ were arrested with 3 locally made guns.
“The arrested suspects confessed to be kidnappers and cattle rustlers. They also confessed to be responsible for the series of kidnapping cases in Malete and Shao area of Kwara State.”
Odama listed the names of the neutralised members of the gang as Bala Idris, Hassan Idris, and Baso Idris, all males.
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He said, “Investigation is ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the kidnapping gang, while the two arrested suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”
The Kwara police boss added, “Similarly, on 21/1/2023 at about 1400HRS, the divisional police officer of Eiyenkorin Division, with vigilante and local hunters in carrying out the directive of the commissioner of police regarding a zero tolerance for kidnapping, they stormed the Eyenkorin thick forest to search the hide-outs of kidnappers. In the shooting encounter with the suspected kidnappers sighted in the bush, some suspects escaped with bullets injuries, while some were arrested.
“At about 1600HRS of 21/01/2023, an information was received that one suspected Fulani man was seen with bullet wounds inside the bush within Eyenkorin, policeman traced and arrested the suspect, during interrogation the suspect confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicates that specializes in kidnapping people around eyenkorin oko-olowo axis. He mentioned one Alhaji Anta now at large as the leader of the gang, other suspects arrested includes (1) Buga Ali ‘M’ (2) Suleiman ISSAH ‘M’ AGE 20YRS (3) AMINU BELLO ‘M’ (4) SULEMAN BILIYAH ‘M’ AGE:21YRS (5) YAHAHA ADAM ‘M’ AGE: 20YRS they will all be charged to court as soon as investigation is over.
“In another successful operation based on an actionable intelligence that some suspected kidnappers who were believed to be responsible for kidnapping around the axis were sighted, the police quickly mobilize vigilante and local hunters and headed to the area. Two of the kidnappers by name (1)Yau Alhaji anta (2) Idris Alhaji Auta were arrested. The suspects confessed to be responsible for the kidnap of the two kidnapped victims in Oluwalose community, oko-olowo, one Alhaji Tunde Buhari and one Muhammed Mecho. When brought together, the Victim identified one of the suspects as one of his abductors.”
The police commissioner said the suspects would soon be charged to court after investigation.