The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper who was fleeing the state as the Force was combing bushes.

The arrest was following the recent arrest of two members of a deadly kidnap gang at Onigbedu forest in Ewekoro local government area of the state, and aggressive bush combing exercise embarked upon by men of Ogun state Police Command in search of the escaped members of the gang.

According to the Police ,one of the fleeing suspects, Usman Aliyu, was on December 14 nabbed while fleeing the state .

The suspect allegedly confessed how his gang killed a victim and collected ransom from hos wife.

He also told how many victims, including a 10 year-old child were seized in their homes before taken them to the bush and demanded for ransom.

According to Ogun State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO),”the suspect was arrested, following information received by policemen at Ewekoro Divisional Headquarters that the suspect was sighted taking a commercial motorcycle at Onigbedu area moving towards Papalanto en route Lagos.

“Upon the information, DPO Ewekoro division, CSP Sunday Opebiyi, quickly mobilized his men on stop and search along that road and the suspect was subsequently identified and promptly arrested.

“On interrogation, he confessed being a member of the kidnap gang, whose two members were earlier arrested and a victim rescued from them.

“He informed the police that they were six in number, and that when two amongst them were apprehended, the other members ran into different directions in the forest. But since policemen are not relenting in searching for them in the bush, he decided to come out and take a commercial motorcycle out of that vicinity.

“He confessed further that it was their gang that was responsible for the kidnap of one Owolabi Abiodun, and one Fakorede Kazeem,at Kipe village, Idi ori Abeokuta on the 7^th of October 2022, but Fakorede Kazeem was killed by the gang because he was unable to walk fast while they were being taking away in the bush.

“The gang according to him, also kidnapped the duo of Adekunle Esther 10 years old, and Adekunle Adebayo 15 years old, at Olomowewe Street, Abeokuta on the 10^th of October 2022.

He confessed further that, on the 19^th of October 2022,the gang kidnapped Mrs Famurewa at Abule Ijaye Soyooye Abeokuta at the entrance of their house after killing her 65 years old husband, one Festus Famurewa and later released the wife after collecting ransome.

Also, on the 16^th of November 2022, the duo of Olatunji Azeez,and Osoba Moroof were kidnapped by the same gang at Olujobi town Itori, but were later set free after collecting ransom.All the victims including the two kids have come forward to to identify the suspects as those who abducted them .

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who praised members of the public for supporting the police by giving them necessary information has given assurance that other members of the gang would be fished out wherever they might be, as the Command would make the state unconducive for them to operate. (Sunday Sun)

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