Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, have arrested 15 suspected kidnappers at various locations in Ibadan.
They also rescued victims and recovered assorted firearms, ammunition at various locations in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Adewale Williams, said this on Tuesday while parading the suspects before newsmen in Ibadan.
The CP, who identified the suspects as Abolaji AbdulAzeez, Alese, Adewale Abolarinwa, Buba Bello, Monday Maleek, Austine Clement, Lanre Divian, and David Jeremiah, said they were picked up from their various hideouts in Oyo state.
Others are: Mohammadh Abdulahi, Umar Mohammed, Abubakar Umaru Hadari Mohammadu, Ibrahim Taiwo, Mohammadu Taiwo and Mohammadu Bello.
According to Williams, some of the suspected kidnappers are noted for intercepting parents while conveying their children and wards to their respective school in Ibadan and its environs.
“On 21 July, 2022 at about 0830hrs, one MRS OKAFOR PATIENCE was conveying her children to school in a Toyota Rav-4 Jeep and on getting to Orita, Challenge area, Ibadan, she was intercepted by some members of a dreaded kidnapping syndicate who were heavily armed with sophisticated firearms and some other dangerous weapons.
‘The kidnappers then proceeded in bundling the said Mrs Okafor Patience, into one ML-350 Mercedes Benz Jeep which they drove off the scene, whisking her away to an unknown destination from where they subsequently contacted her relatives. Immediately after, the case was reported at the nearest police station.
“Also on 28th August 2022, the same syndicate, on 28th August 2022, intercepted one Atitebi Ganiyat who was conveying her 8-year-old son to school in a Toyota Highlander Jeep along Felele link road, Lagos/Ibadan expressway. Fortunately, the 8-year-old boy was abandoned in the Highlander Jeep in the Sagamu area of Ogun State.
“Sequel to these developments, painstaking investigations continued by the Command Monitoring Unit and these led to the arrest of some of the suspects.
“In furtherance of the above, (2) Two Pump Action Riffles, (3) three live cartridges, an ML-350 Mercedes Benz Jeep, a Toyota Corolla Vehicle which they used for the criminal activities and cash sum of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira which was part of the ransom they collected from the 2nd victim was recovered from the suspects.
“Six additional vehicles; one Honda Element Jeep, One Lexus 350 Car, Nissan Cabster, one Honda Accord Car, One Toyota Matrix Car and a Nissan Micra Car which they later confessed to having purchased from the proceeds of the criminal venture were also recovered from the suspects.
“Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime and other series of high-profile kidnapping incidents previously executed in Oyo State.
“Investigation still continues and further developments will be communicated in due course,
“Items recovered include; two pump action riffles, three live cartridges, one Toyota Corrola car, one ML-350 Mercedes Benz Jeep, One Lexus ES350 car and One Honda Element Jeep.
The list also includes; one NISSAN caster vehicle, one Honda Accord car, one Toyota matrix car and One NISSAN Micra car,” the statement read.