By SULEIMAN SHEHU

The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested an alleged notorious kidnapper terrorising the state and other neighbouring states.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.

Olayinka said that recovered from the location of the suspect’s arrest in Ikoyi-Ile, Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, included an AK-47 rifle with live ammunitions and cartridges.

Olayinka said the suspect was arrested by a joint security patrol and timely intelligence sharing by members of the public.

“In this instance, information received from a vigilant member of the public revealed that three armed men with an AK-47 rifle and other weapons11 were seen marauding around the forest and farmland in the Ikoyi-Ile area.

“Acting promptly on this report, a joint team of operatives, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ikoyi-Ile Division, mobilised to the location and conducted a meticulous combing of the surrounding bushes to locate the suspects and recover any illegal firearms,” he said.

The PPRO said that the operation led to the arrest of one of the suspects and recovery of an AK-47 rifle with breach number 6628/2274, six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and three live cartridges.

He said that the suspect had allegedly confessed to a series of kidnapping activities around the Ogbomoso–Ikoyi-Ile axis and has been cooperating with ongoing investigations.

“Further findings revealed that the suspect has been on the Command’s radar for some time and is linked to cross-border criminal operations along state lines,” the PRO said.

Olayinka said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abimbola Olugbenga, has directed the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet and thorough investigation.

The police spokesman said that manhunt has commenced to apprehend the remaining members of the gang and reassured the public of its unwavering resolve to rid the state of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes. (NAN)