Police in Ogun State on Sunday arrested nine suspects who were allegedly members of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Abeokuta/Ayetoro road.
The suspects were Hammed Taiwo, Kehinde Jimoh, Umar Sanda, Sanda Aliu, Ali Morandu, Usman Abubakar, Usman Mohammed, Umaru Ahmadu and Umaru Momodu.
A statement by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects were apprehended when police operatives, in collaboration with local hunters, So Safe Corps, Oodua Peoples Congress, vigilante and men of Amotekun Corps stormed their hideouts at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro road, Abeokuta.
According to him, a credible intelligence was gathered by policemen at Sabo/Ilupeju divisional headquarters that Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh, who were okada riders running errands for the syndicate, were sighted somewhere in Rounder area of Abeokuta North Local Government.
“Upon the information, the DPO Sabo/Ilupeju division, SP Mustapha Opawoye, quickly mobilised his men and moved to the area, where the duo of Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh were apprehended.
“On interrogation, they confessed being 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 unawares.
“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 statement revealed.
Oyeyemi stated that preliminary investigation further implicated the suspects as some of their victims were able to identified them.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, who praised the effort of his men, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the anti-kidnapping section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.