A notorious 9-member kidnap syndicate terrorising Abeokuta Ayetoro Road in recent time was, on Sunday, arrested in their hideout at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro Road, by men of the Ogun State Police Command.
The arrest, according to a release by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, was in collaboration with local hunters, So-safe Corps, OPC, vigilante and men of Amotekun Corps.
As contained in the release, AZ:5310/OGS/PRO/VOL.7/103/25/04/2022, the suspects include Hammed Taiwo, Kehinde Jimoh, Umar Sanda, Sanda Aliu, Ali Morandu, Usman Abubakar, Usman Mohammed, Umaru Ahmadu and Umaru Momodu.
The Ogun Police image-maker said they were arrested following a credible intelligence gathered by policemen at Sabo/Ilupeju divisional headquarters.
He added 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 Area.
“Upon the information, the DPO Sabo/Ilupeju division, SP Mustapha Opawoye, moblised his men and moved to the area, where the duo of Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh were apprehended.
“On interrogation, they confessed been part of the syndicate, but their own role is to run errands and watch the environment to prevent law enforcement agents from getting to them 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 mobilised 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.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are the group terrorising Abeokuta/Ayetoro Road in recent time. Some of their victims have been able to identified them as their abductors,” it was stated in the release.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Bankole, expressed satisfaction about the intelligence-based investigation carried out by his men which led to the arrest of the hoodlums.
He was said to have ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the anti-kidnapping section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
