By Kehinde Okeowo
Men of Ondo State security outfit, better known as Amotekun, intercepted a gang of kidnappers along Ondo and Ogun states border on Wednesday while trying to escape with a victim, Alhaji Shakirudeen, a cement dealer they abducted in Ogun state.
The hoodlums while trying to escape exchanged gunfire with men of the security outfit, in the process one of them, Funmi Adenuoye, was killed by his won colleague, while the 58-year- old cement dealer was rescued.
The Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye who said the security outfit’s operation was aided by their intelligence network, told newsmen that the kidnappers had abducted the cement dealer from Ogun State and tried to cross into Ondo State when they ran into his men.
He also said in addition to the kidnapper who died, one Tayo Ibrahim was caught, while one of them simply identified as Kunle, escaped.
“One Tayo Ibrahim, Funmi Adenuoye and one Kunle kidnapped one Alhaji Shakirudeen, 58, that resides in Owopin area of waterside in Ogun State.
“They met him by his door at 2000hrs on the 6th of October 2021 at gunpoint. They were able to kidnap him, bundled him into a highlander vehicle and drove recklessly out of Ogun State into Ondo State.
“Our credible intelligence network picked that some criminals are driving recklessly. At that point, we didn’t really know what was in the vehicle but their driving presupposes that had problems. So we laid manhunt for them and in the Okitipupa area of Ondo State, we were able to apprehend the gang.
“They engaged our men in a shootout and we were able to eventually secure the release of the victim, Alhaji Shakirudeen.
“We also arrested Tayo Ibrahim who negotiated with the victim for a ransom of N10m while on the road. They thereafter gave him his phone to contact his family members who were directed to bring the negotiated amount to a particular point in the riverine area of Ondo State.
“The kidnappers who carried out the act were three in number. One died, another one was able to escape and we have one with us in our custody.
“The one that ran away was the one who was armed with a gun. It was when he was trying to escape that he began to shoot and in the process, the gunshot killed one of his gang.
“They injured one of our operatives but he is now recuperating in the hospital and they lost one of their member in the shoot-out,” he said,
The arrested kidnapper, Ibrahim, who was apprehended after the gun duel between the security outfit and the kidnappers, told newsmen that he had thought they were going for a robbery operation until he got into the car and saw the kidnap victim. He also said he negotiated with the victim’s family to pay a ransom of N2m before they were apprehended.
“I was in my house when my friend Funmi Adenuoye told me to wait somewhere for him. When we met he told me that we were going for a robbery operation. It was when I got into the vehicle that I realized that they had already kidnapped a man.
“It was when we were going that Funmi asked the man whether he has N10m and the man said he doesn’t have such amount.
“But he later told the man to tell his people to bring N2m for his release. Kunle was the one handling the gun used for the operation.” Ibrahim said.
On his part, the victim attributed his rescue to God’s favour and the timely intervention of Amotekun. He also said his abductors had successfully negotiated the ransom for his release with his family, who had raised the money and were planning to meet the kidnappers to deliver the ransom.
According to him “When they kidnapped me, they told me that they will collect N10m for my release but after pleading with them, they agreed to collect N2m.
“They told me to call my family to get the money ready and the money was raised.
”They said the money should be taken to a place between J4 and Ajibandele in Ondo State. But Amotekun had rescued me before they could collect the ransom.”
The Amotekun boss further told newsmen, that another two suspected collaborators of kidnappers, in the northern senatorial district of Ondo state were apprehended in Owo, on suspicion of providing food and other basic utilities for kidnappers and their victims in the forest.
According to him, these collaborators were arrested while buying items needed by the kidnappers and their victims around Ikare-Owo junction in Owo, Ondo state, with the motive of taking the items into the forest for other gang members.