Police in Ogun State have arrested two suspected members of a kidnap syndicate, Umar Mohammed and Aliyu Mohammed, while the victim, Olorunsogo Oluwaseyi, was rescued unhurt.
The victim was said to have been abducted in front of his house at about 7:45 pm on December 12 by a six-man kidnap gang.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the arrest was carried out following a tip-off “that the kidnappers, who abducted the victim at Soyooye area of Abeokuta, were sighted in a forest at Onigbedu area of Ewekoro Local Government Area.
“On the strength of the information, the DPO Ewekoro division, CSP Sunday Opebiyi, mobilized his men in collaboration with so safe corps men, Hunters, Vigilantes and some youths of the community and stormed the said forest.
“On sighting the men, the kidnappers fired gunshot at them, but the superior fire power of the policemen overpowered them, consequence upon which two members of the syndicate were arrested and the victim rescued, while others escaped.”
Oyeyemi said one single-barrel gun with two live cartridges, two expended cartridges, a bag belonging to the victim and some clothes were recovered from the arrested suspects.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who commended the quick response of his men and members of the community, has directed that the suspects be transferred to Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation. He also ordered a massive manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang with the view to bring them to justice,” the statement concluded.