Three of five suspected kidnappers who were arrested by the Kwara State Police Command, have confessed to being responsible for the abduction of victim from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states.
The confessions were made during the suspects’ parade on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
The suspects, who were among the five paraded, were identified as Babagida Buguda (30), Bashiru Yakuba (35) and Mohammed Umaru (26).
Recovered from them were two locally-made guns and two mobile phones.
Briefing journalists at the parade of the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Odama, said that on November 9, at about 5:45pm, one Mr. Shina Luke Abiodun of Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state and one other, while riding on a motorcycle on their way from Egbe in Kogi, State, were accosted at Koro village close to Eruku town by men numbering about six, who emerged from the bush armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.
“The hoodlums opened fire on them and they sustained gunshot injuries. They however escaped the attack and ran to the Anti-Kidnapping patrol team stationed at Eruku town.
“The team moved to the scene and one Techno Phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the phone by the investigators led to the arrest of the kingpin and two of his gang members in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State on December 20.”
He said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states.
They also confessed to killing one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu, a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to Ekiti Command.
One of their victims and his six-year-old son were said to have come from Ekiti State to identify the suspects, and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects before they were released after payment of N6 million as ransom.
Speaking further, CP Odama said that intelligence available to the command on December 12 indicated that a 15-year-old boy, Abubakar Mohammed, had been kidnapped along Oke-Ode–Share road, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State.
On the receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police said that he dispatched a team of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and conventional Police from Oke-Ode Division.
“Diligent investigation led to the arrest of one Garuba Abubakar a.k.a Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam of Ile Nam Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State who are members of the kidnap syndicate.
They confessed to have collected N500,000 paid as ransom by the victim’s family.
“The leader of the gang, one Chairman Rabiu, who is presently at large, is said to be in possession of the gang’s firearms and always in custody of all the ransom collected.
The police commissioner said that efforts were ongoing to get him and other fleeing suspects arrested and to recover the remaining firearms in their possession.
He added those undergoing further investigation would be charged to court after its completion.
