The Ogun State Police Command on Friday announced that it had uncovered and arrested a seven-man gang allegedly terrorising and kidnapping travellers along the Sagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway.

The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing held at the command?s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The arrested suspects include Azeez Abolaji Alese, aged 42 and leader of the gang; 34-year-old Onokrese Jacob; Henry Gaga Emmanuel, aged 34; Joseph Udomah, aged 42; 41-year-old Abiola Oduyemi; Abbey Emmanuel, aged 34; and 39-year-old Jimoh Kareem.

The gang was said to be responsible for the kidnapping of seven people between May and September along the Ijebu-Ode/Sagamu expressway axis.

A lead on 3rd October prompted the anti-kidnapping unit in the state to initiate a discreet investigation, resulting in the arrest of Abiola Oduyemi in his hideout in Egbeda, Ibadan, Oyo State, along with other principal suspects.

Alamutu said, ?On 16th May 2024, at about 20:28 hrs, this vicious syndicate led by Azeez Abolaji Alese attacked a woman named Busari Abiola while she was trying to drive into her premises by her gate in Sagamu, Ogun State. She was subsequently kidnapped and driven away in her unregistered 2009 ash-coloured Corolla. Fortunately, the kidnappers later released her, taking only the vehicle.?

?On 17th May 2024, at about 20:10 hrs in the Irewon area of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the same Azeez Abolaji Alese, with six other armed men, intercepted one Adebayo Olabisi and whisked her away in her white Highlander Jeep, with registration number BDG 125 HZ, to an unknown destination.?

The Command received information that barely three weeks after the first two kidnappings, the same group led by Azeez Abolaji Alese abducted Omosehin Tanwa on 2nd June 2024, at about 18:00 hrs from Itamogiri, Ijebu Mushin, Ogun State, taking her to an unknown location.

?While the anti-kidnapping team were on their trail, Azeez Abolaji Alese and his gang, in a similar pattern, attacked one Segun Adebanjo on 14th July 2024, at about 23:00 hrs, and drove him away in his red Toyota Camry.?

The final attack occurred on 5th September 2024, at about 19:00 hrs, when the gang gained access to the compound of Uruakpa Elizabeth, a nurse from Babcock University, as she returned from work. They pointed a gun at her and took her away in her unregistered red Toyota Camry.

The CP said that during the investigation, Abiola Oduyemi was arrested on 3rd October and found with a branded key holder from Babcock University and a shuttle bag belonging to one of the kidnapped victims.

Oduyemi, who had no affiliation with Babcock University, confessed upon interrogation to his involvement in a series of kidnapping cases in the state and provided information that led to the arrest of his accomplices.

Police identified Alese as the gang leader and recruiter, who allegedly relied on a talisman or a criminal charm to guide his actions when targeting victims.

The police stated, ?Notably, Alese has orchestrated numerous kidnapping incidents, extorting ransoms before releasing his victims.?

The CP mentioned that Alese was first arrested on 14th January 2016 for kidnapping an expatriate along the Sagamu-Ogijo road and is currently facing charges in court. He was later apprehended by the Oyo State Police Command on 28th August 2022 for kidnapping two women in Ibadan and has an ongoing case at the High Court, Ibadan.

Alese was released on bail on 26th April 2024 but instead of reforming, he formed a new gang and resumed kidnappings starting on 16th May 2024 until his eventual arrest by the anti-kidnapping unit.

Further profiling of the other arrested suspects helped the police define the roles played by each individual.

Udoma, one of the suspects, admitted his role in providing information to the gang. He was previously involved in the kidnapping of a journalist in Ijebu-Ode in 2023 and sustained bullet injuries during a police rescue operation.

A Browning pistol was recovered from Emmanuel, allegedly used in their kidnapping and robbery operations, while Salami Rasheed from Saki, Oyo State, and Jimoh Kareem from Kosubosu, Kwara State, were identified as the syndicate?s armourers. They reportedly specialised in procuring locally made pistols and ammunition for the gang and negotiated the sale of stolen vehicles to the neighbouring Niger Republic.

Ogunbanwo, another syndicate member, was responsible for ensuring the gang?s needs were met by providing food for the kidnapped victims held captive in Ososa Forest.

Exhibits recovered from the gang include one Browning pistol, a Helement Jeep with registration number AYT 88 MS, a Toyota Camry with registration number KTU 406 JL, school and lunch bags, and one Babcock University key holder.

Also paraded was Onoriode Augustine, a 33-year-old man whose partner, one Akpan, remains at large.

Augustine and his partner were reported to have been targeting children for kidnapping around Ijebu-Ode and had abducted Adeogun Oluwasegun and Jonathan Favour while pretending to search for apartments to lease.

Alamutu, commending the renewed commitment of the command?s operatives to combat crime in the state, urged residents to remain vigilant and support the command in ensuring the safety of everyone across the state. (The PUNCH)

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