25th April, 2022
By Adejoke Adeleye/ Abeokuta
Nine members of a notorious kidnap gang alleged to be members of a syndicate terrorizing the people of Abeokuta Ayetoro area of Ogun State have been arrested by the police.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday 24th of April 2022 in their hideout at Abule oba, off Ayetoro road in Abeokuta by police and local vigilance groups.
In a statement, Ogun Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi said the arrest of the suspects was joint efforts of operatives So Safe Corps, OPC, vigilante men of Amotekun corps and hunters
According to him, the suspects – Hammed Taiwo, Kehinde Jimoh, Umar Sanda, Sanda Aliu, Ali Morandu, Usman Abubakar, Usman Mohammed, Umaru Ahmadu and Umaru Momodu were arrested, following a credible intelligence gathered by policemen at Sabo/Ilupeju divisional headquarters, that Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh who are errand okada riders to the kidnap syndicate were sighted somewhere in Rounder area of Abeokuta North local government.
“Upon the information, the DPO Sabo/Ilupeju division, SP Mustapha Opawoye, quickly moblised his men and moved to the area, where the duo of Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh were apprehended.
“On interrogation, they confessed to be part of the syndicate, but said their is limited to running errands and surveying the environment to prevent law enforcement agents from catching the kidnappers unaware.
“Their confession led to the discovery of the hideout of the group at Abule oba, off Ayetoro road, where they always met after collecting ransom from their victims.
“Having discovered the hideout, the DPO mobilized his men, So Safe Corps, OPC men, local hunters and men of Amotekun corps and subsequently stormed the place where all the nine members of the syndicate were arrested,” the police spokesperson said.
Abimbola added that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of the group who have been terrorizing Abeokuta/Ayetoro road in recent time.
He said some of kidnap victims have been able to identified them as their abductors.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Lanre Bankole, who expressed satisfaction about the intelligence based investigation carried out by his men which led to the arrest of the hoodlums has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti kidnapping section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.