Seventeen suspected kidnappers terrorising Oke-Ogun and Ogbomosho axis of Oyo State at the weekend told the state police command that their operations were carried out in only two zones of the state.

They are said to be responsible for the abduction of one Aishat Lawal, Haruna Jaye and Olasunkanmi Wasiu.

The spokesman of the police in the state, Adewale Osifeso, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan said some of them were responsible for the abduction of Christopher Taiwo Bakare, the farm manager of the former governor of the state, the late Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala, who was kidnapped on July 16, 2022.

The PPRO pointed out that in a bid to rid the state of criminal and unscrupulous elements, the State Police Command, under CP Adewale Williams, has rejigged the command’s security architecture to cater comprehensively and qualitatively to all and sundry.

He listed exhibits recovered from the 17 suspects as one Dane rifle gun, a detachable hood cap, one expended cartridge, N12,000 and a pair of slippers.

Speaking on behalf of the suspects, Abdullahi Muhammed, who said he resided in the Igaunna area of the state, revealed that the gang started the business two years ago.

“We were arrested for kidnapping one Alhaji Yahya. I’m an active member of the kidnapping syndicate. We have been in the kidnapping business for over two years and the last victim we kidnapped gave us a ransom of N1 million and I was given N150,000 as my share of the money.

“We used to operate anywhere that is conducive for us in the Iganna and Ogbomoso areas,” the suspect said. (Daily Trust)

Update news