By Suleiman Shehu
The Police Command in Oyo State has arrested two ex-convicts for alleged motorcycle theft and 22 others for kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching and ritualists.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga disclosed this at a news conference in Ibadan on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items recovered from all the suspects include 10 vehicles, two motorcycles, 497 bags of maize, Ak 47 rifle and other arms and ammunition as well as suspected human parts.
Olugbenga said that the two ex-convicts, who were just recently released from Agodi Correctional Centre, were arrested by operatives on March 19 after stealing a TVC motorcycle from where it was parked at the New Garage area of Ibadan.
He said that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Swift Response Squad (SRS), on routine patrol at Orita, New Garage area, Ibadan, at about 6:30 a.m while pushing the stolen motorcycle.
The CP said that further investigation was currently ongoing on the matter.
Speaking on the arrested kidnappers, Olugbenga said six of them invaded Supodu Saheed’s residence at Baabi Village, Oyo town, on Jan. 20 while armed with AK-47 rifle, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
He said the gang, who were later discovered to be Nomadic Cattle herders, attacked the victim and dispossessed him of his mobile phones and other valuable items and kidnapped him to an unknown destination.
“They contacted the victim’s family and demanded N40 million ransom and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid.
“The incident was reported at the Command’s Monitoring Unit for investigation, while efforts were ongoing to track the perpetrators, the family of the victims paid N10 million leading to his release after three days in captivity.
According to Olugbenga, the same kidnappers invaded Ayetoro village, Oyo town, on Jan.27 and broke into the residence of two herders, Gurumo Issa and Issa Adamu and abducted them.
Olugbenga said that the kidnappers contacted the victim’s families and demanded N30 million and in their usual pattern threatened to kill the victims if their demand was not met.
“The second and third victims were released after five days following the payment of N14 million.
“Subsequently, the victims were invited to the Monitoring Unit, where they provided a detailed account and while discreet investigation and intelligence gathering led to the arrest of three members of the kidnappers in their respective hide-out,” he said.
He said that investigation was ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate.
Olugbenga further said that the command also arrested three suspects for hijacking and diversion of a truck load of 497 bags of maize branded “Presidential Food Security Intervention” which was recovered at Akufo Farm Settlement, Ido, Ibadan. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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