Ondo Police Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Beef Up Security In Banks

Despite the progress made recently to curb kidnapping activities in Ondo State , the state command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested five suspected kidnappers tormenting the lives of the people . Meanwhile , there had been recurrent armed robbery attacks in the last one week , which involved two persons at different locations in Akure and a bank in Idoani , Ose Local Government Area , leading to eight deaths.

While parading the suspects yesterday in Akure , the Commissioner of Police , Undie Adie , revealed that his men tracked the kidnappers to their hideout in Ibilo , Edo State , in a bid to completely rid the state of such menace.

According to him , the suspects had abducted one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon on 2 April, 2019 along Akunnu - Akoko/ Auga- Akoko road where they allegedly dispossessed their victim of his money.

“ On the 2 nd April, 2019 at about 0715 hrs , one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon ‘ m ’ of A3 Senior Staff Quarters, Nifor , Benin City Edo State was attacked by unknown gunmen numbering six along Akunnu Akoko/Auga Akoko Road Ondo State . “ The hoodlums robbed him of cash sum of one hundred and eighty five thousand naira (185 , 000 . 00 k ) and also abducted him into the bush.

The abductors demanded thirty million naira ( 30 , 000 , 000 . 00 k ) as ransom for his release . “ On the 3 rd of April, 2019 , a team of Police men with members of vigilante group trailed the kidnappers to their Den at Ibilo , Edo State.

“ After exchange of gun fire , the kidnappers fled to unknown destination leaving behind one pump action , one double barrel and two single barrel guns . The victim escaped to a community in Ibilo where he explained his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers.

Undie disclosed that “ the police placed the community on red alert to watch out for any strange face. Thereafter , one Ismaila Wakili (M , 19 years ) from Niger State whom the victim later recognized as one of the kidnappers was arrested and handed over to the police.

“ Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned other members of his gang . ”

He added that the suspect led a team of detectives to the hideouts of the hoodlums at Aduwawa in Benin City , Edo State, where Abdullahi Sanni (M , 33 years ) from Kogi State and Mohammed Abdullahi (M , 36 years ) from Sokoto State.

Other members of the gang arrested were: Umoru Usman ( M, 25 years ) from Kebbi State and Sheu Usman ( M, 25 years ) from Niger State . The Commissioner noted that Wakili identified them to be members of the kidnap gang terrorizing Akoko axis of the state.

He stated that the command had intensified efforts to arrest other members of the gang at large , assuring that the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution after the ongoing investigation.

While giving update on the Idoani bank robbery where seven people were shot dead , the police boss mentioned that the command had stepped up investigation to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.

He noted that the command would hold crucial meeting with managements of banks across the state so as to scale up security in bank premises all over the state.

But one of the suspects , Wakili , who confessed to being part of the crime as first timer , declared that he did not know the other four suspects that were later arrested and paraded alongside with him .