Etim Effiong
The operatives of the Ogun State Police Command has arrested three members of a kidnap syndicate, who have been terrorising commuters along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The suspects, arrested on the 8th of April 2021, as confirmed by the command’s spokesman, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi are: Nathaniel Jacob, ‘m’, from Nasarawa State; Isah Danladi ‘m’, 22, from Kogi State, and Abubakar Rabiu, ‘m’, 23 and from Niger State.
Oyeyemi the suspects were arrested at Fidiwo area on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a tip-off from some hunters, who sighted the suspects in the bush where they were planning on how to strike along the road.
“The hunters quickly alerted the police, who rallied other stakeholders such as so safe corps, hunters’ group and stormed the Fidiwo Alapako bush.
“On sighting the police, the suspects took to their heels in the bush, but luck ran out of the three and they were subsequently apprehended, while three others escaped with their arms.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to have been in the bush for the past ten days, waiting for a convenient opportunity to strike. It took them that long because of heavy presence of policemen in the stretch of the expressway.
“They stated further that, they are six in number that makes up the gang and that the escaped three are in possession of their arms.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang was responsible for the series of kidnapping along the expressway.
“Recovered from them are cutlasses which they claimed were seized from farmers they saw in their farms,” Oyeyemi said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti-kidnapping unit of the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
He also assured members of the public that, all the kidnap cases in the state will not go unresolved, as the command is working assiduously to bring the perpetrators to book.