Two notorious gangs of Kidnapping suspects consisting of five members have been paraded by the Kwara state Police Command.
NigeriaCrime.com gathered that suspected criminals were responsible for the abduction of innocent members of the public in Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states during which ransoms of millions of Naira were paid.
Parading the suspects, the State Police Commissioner, Paul Odama said that the first group was made up of three suspects including; Babagida Buguda (30years),
Bashiru Yakuba (35years) and Mohammed Umaru (26years) were alleged to have attacked and shot two Vigilante members who were on patrol of Eruku/Koro/Egbe Road in Kwara and Kogi State boundary while two Locally made guns and two Telephone handsets were recovered from them.
He added that the group was responsible for the murder of an Inspector of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Segun Ayegbulu attached to Ekiti state Command as well as the alleged kidnap of a six-year-old boy and his father.
The police boss also said that the other group alleged to be members of another kidnapping syndicate; Garuba Abubakar aka. Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam of Ile Nam, Oke-Ode in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State were arrested after kidnapping a 15-year-old boy, Mohammed Abubakar along Oke-Ode/Share road in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.
The Police Commissioner said that on November 9, this year, about six armed gang men emerged from a bush and attacked two Vigilante men who were patrolling Kwara/ Kogi road at Koro in Ekiti local government area of Kwara state.
According to him,” Mr Shina Luke Abiodun of Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara 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 20/12/2022.
“The suspects confessed during interrogation to have been responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara States respectively.
“One of their victims and his six-year-old son came from Ekiti State to identify and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects and were released after payment of N6 million. The suspects also confessed to have killed one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu of the NSCDC attached to Ekiti Command.
“Further Investigation into the matter led to the recovery of two locally made pistols. Efforts are also ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang and recovery of the remaining firearms in their possession.”
The Police Commissioner continued, “On 12/12/2022, intelligence available to the Command indicated that one Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ 15 yrs old has been kidnapped along Oke-Ode – Share road, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State. This prompted the Commissioner of Police to dispatch a team of State Intelligent Bureau (SIB) and conventional Police from Oke-Ode Division.
“Diligent investigation led to the arrest of one Garuba Abubakar ‘m’ A.K.A. Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam ‘m’ of Ile Nam Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State who are member of the kidnapping syndicate, they confessed to have been the collector of the N500,000 ransom paid by the victim.
“The leader of the gang, one Chairman Rabiu ‘m’ who is presently at large is said to have the gang firearm and always in custody of all ransom collected as confessed by two arrested suspects.”
Odama said that efforts were in top gear to get the leader of the gang who is also the armourer of the gang arrested adding that all the suspects would soon be charged to court after a thorough investigation of their cases.
“The Command is stating for the umpteenth time, that Kwara State would not be made comfortable for Criminals, therefore, Criminal elements are advised to leave Kwara State, as plans are firmly on ground to make Kwara State hot and uncomfortable for Criminal elements”, he warned.