A member of a kidnapping and child trafficking gang, identified as Tayo Adeleke, has been apprehended by men of the Ogun State Police Command.
This was disclosed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omolola Odutola, who said that Adeleke and his gang are specialised in kidnapping children to sell in neighbouring Benin Republic.
Adeleke is currently undergoing interrogation in police custody over a latest attempt he made with two other men, now at large, to steal children at Omu Pempe community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Tuesday.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that at about 2:00 am, the suspects, riding on a motorcycle, stormed the Baptist church in Omu Pempe to perpetrate the act.
Their mission, it was learnt, was to cart away children from the church and sell them in the Republic of Benin but Luck ran against him.
Odutola noted that Adeleke was apprehended with the joint effort of the police, the So-Safe Corps and other vigilante groups in the said community, even as his colleagues escaped through the bush.
The police publicist also said the suspect confessed during interrogation that, “they came to the area to kidnap children. He said they have a syndicate and they have been kidnapping children and selling them to the Republic of Benin. We have arrested one and he will help in bringing others to book.”
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The police image maker also stated that kidnappers have observed that the command has taken charge of the highways in Ogun and they are now trying to go into communities to operate.
“So, we are calling on our traditional rulers, our community leaders in the state, to establish an internal security to barricade the entry and exit points to their communities and give security agents the necessary information to aid the security of lives and property. Villagers can easily identify strangers in their communities, they should help the police. Thank God this was a foiled one.
“The Ogun State Command under the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, would not relent until criminals are flushed out of Ogun, wherever they are.”