By ABIODUN LAWAL

The police command in Ogun has arrested a suspect, allegedly connected with the kidnap of a journalist, Oluseun Oduneye, at Mobalufon area of Ijebu Ode on March 9.

SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Tuesday, said that the suspect was arrested on March 24.

He explained that the suspect, a 41-year-old man, was arrested following technical and intelligence based investigation embarked upon by the command’s anti kidnapping team, led by SP Taiwo Opadiran.

The police spokesman said that the investigation led the team to the suspect’s hideout where he was arrested

Oyeyemi explained that policemen attached to Obalende Police Divisional Headquarters traced the kidnappers to Idimu area of Lagos state, where they engaged the hoodlums in gun battle.

“At the end of the encounter, the kidnappers escaped with serious gunshot injuries and abandoned the victim and his car.

“Having rescued the victim, the Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, ordered a massive manhunt for the fleeing suspects.

“And in compliance with the CP’s directive, Opadiran led team embarked on technical and intelligence based investigation which led to the arrest of the suspect.

“The suspect was the one detailed to guard the victim in the bush while the two others were waiting for the ransom.

“Immediately he discovered that his other colleagues had been injured, he abandoned the victim and ran away.

“Luck, however, ran out on him when he was traced to his hideout in Ijebu-Ode where he was apprehended,” the police spokesman said.

Oyeyemi said that a locally made pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from him.

He said that the CP has commended the team and directed them to intensify efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the gang. (NAN)