The operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested seven suspected kidnappers, including an informant.
According to Tribune, this was made known in a statement by the State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, on Saturday.
He said the arrests were made through a collaborative effort involving various specialized units such as the Counter Terrorism Unit, Anti-Robbery, Anti-Kidnapping, Anti-Cultism, Anti-Narcotic, Explosive Ordinance Department, Police Mobile Force and Police Medical.
The Kwara police boss listed the suspects to include Umaru Mohammodu aka Yellow, Male, Mohammodu Mohammodu aka Kerimi, Male, Garuba Abubakar, Iliasu Usman, Ibraheem Abubakar, Usman Haruna, and Umaru Bello who served as an informant.
He said, “a cash sum of N1,736,000.00, One Million, Seven Hundred, and Thirty-Six Thousand Naira, was recovered during a search of their hideout.”
Responding to the spate of kidnapping in Kwara South, particularly in Ora, Oke-Ode, and other areas in Ifelodun Local Government Area, the police formed a specialized team with a distinct directive to comb the bushes and forests in identified areas. The team was tasked with arresting criminals, recovering arms and ammunition, rescuing victims, and eliminating criminal elements from the bushes.
Commencing on November 1, 2023, the operation has yielded positive outcomes, contributing to a temporary reduction in criminal activities until the unfortunate incident on November 10, 2023, in Agbeku.
The command remains resolute in its unwavering commitment to applying relentless pressure on criminals until they are expelled from the state of Harmony.
“The seven suspects arrested during the operation have been arraigned in court and are presently remanded in prison custody. The police are actively pursuing efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the recent unfortunate incident”, the police said.
On Friday night, tragedy struck in Agbeku in the Kwara South district where two persons were reportedly killed, and two were kidnapped, all from the same family. It was noted that in approximately two months, the hoodlums had struck three times in Agbekuland. Two weeks prior, they also attacked the neighboring community of Ora, leaving casualties and kidnapping two persons.