The Ogun State Police Command operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers and the victims numbering three were also rescued at a forest on the Imeko- Iwoye Ketu Road in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state.
The gang of suspected kidnappers were said to be eight members and have been terrorising the Imeko and Iwoye areas of the state.
According to SP Abimbola, Spokesperson of the command, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, said officials at Imeko Divisional Headquarters, made the arrest after receiving a distress call.
“The suspects, Aliu Abubakar 29 yrs, Umaru Tukur 24 years and Yau Isah 25 years, were arrested following a distress call received by policemen at Imeko divisional headquarters that, kidnappers numbering about 8, armed with dangerous weapons blocked Termac/Iwoye road and shooting sporadically,” he said.
“Upon the receipt of the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Imeko division, mobilized his men in conjunction with men of Amotekun corps, So safe corps, Hunters, Vigilantes as well as Fulani/Yoruba youths and stormed the forest in search of the victims and their abductors,” the statement added.
“The information revealed further that the hoodlums had injured the duo of Bode Ogunleye and Muhammad Basa, while the trio of Alhaji Fatai Abdulsalam, Alhaji Dauda Orelope and Alhaji Rafiu Isah were abducted by the same group,” the PPRO stated.
“Due to the intense pressure, the kidnappers abandoned their victims and took to flight, leaving an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle behind at their hideout in the forest.
“The victims were rescued unhurt, while the security operatives continued combing the bush, which led to the discovery of the three amongst the suspects where they were hiding in the forest.
“When they were searched, the key to the abandoned motorcycle at the scene of the kidnap was recovered in the pocket of one of them along with three cutlasses.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the anti-kidnapping section of the state Criminal and Investigation Department for discreet investigation.