Police yesterday paraded members of a five-man-gang who allegedly kidnapped a 17-year-old boy, Shakiru Weti, at Igangan town, Ibarapa axis of Oyo State.
At the state Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the Commissioner of Police, Olushina Olukolu, said that the suspected criminals were arrested following a report to the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ayete by Alhaji Abdul Saliu, who is the state Sariki Fulani.
The suspects are 30-year-old Kehinde Adeoye (who is the gang leader), Yuguda Jayum (22), Bature Dogo (20), Kazeem Sule (39) and Maanu Garuba (22).
The commissioner said that the abduction occurred on September 17, 2019, about 10p.m., when Saliu reported at Ayete Divisional Police Headquarters that a Fulani called Weti ‘m’ reported to him that a gunman kidnapped his son, Shakiru Weti.
He said: “But on 22nd September, 2019 about 5p.m., the abductors called and demanded N1 million.
“The family members were encouraged to agree to pay the amount demanded. Hence, the money was handed over to Babangida Shehu to be deposited at the agreed spot while the police detectives laid ambush. Hence, about 8p.m., Yuguda Jayum and one other came to pick the agreed ransom where it was kept.
“Consequently, in the process, Yuguda Jayum was arrested with the ransom of N1 million intact while his accomplice escaped. However, Yuguda Jayum confessed to be the leader of the group that carried out the kidnapping and about 3a.m., the following day, detectives extended investigations to their hideout at Igangan where their victim was found tied and blindfolded and was rescued.
“Kehinde Adeoye, a member of the syndicate, who was guarding the victim to prevent his escape, was arrested. But another cohort, Taiwo Adeoye, who was armed, opened fire on the team and escaped. In the course of further investigations, Bature Dogo, Kazeem Sule and Maanu Garuba, were also arrested in connection with the kidnapping and they all confessed to have masterminded the kidnapping of Shakiru Weti with Taiwo Adeoye and Sanda, who are also members of the gang but presently at large.”
Exhibits recovered from the suspected criminals are one Gionee phone, N1 million cash, two Itel phones, and one Techno handset.
Jayum confessed to the crime.
The suspect said that he was sent to kidnap the victim by Kehinde and Taiwo Adeoye.
He said: “After I have successfully kidnapped the boy, I and the boy were not allowed to get out of the house. Everything we needed were supplied to us by either Taiwo or Kehinde, including our food. But I was arrested while I was about to go and pick our ransom.”
Kehinde Adeoye, however, denied his involvement in the crime as he said that he only accommodated the kidnapped boy because he was told that the boy was a son of Jayum’s boss.
He said: “I don’t know that the boy was kidnapped. I was only told that the boy is a son of Yuguda Jayum’s boss, and Yuguda told me that his boss owed him money. He said he only kidnapped the boy so as to get back his money. More so, my twin brother,r Taiwo, who is now at large, is the one that has more relationship with those boys.
“My only mistake is that I accepted to keep the kidnapped boy in my custody inside my house, and it was there that I was arrested.”
