The Kwara State police command has paraded nine suspects, including the masterminds who allegedly abducted a judicial officer, Mrs Jumoke Bamigboye and wife of the former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun States, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye.
The State Police Commissioner, Paul Odama, who briefed newsmen at the police command headquarters in Ilorin, named the three suspects who allegedly abducted Mrs Jumoke Bamigboye as Babangida Ibrahim (18), Abubakar Ibrahim (19) and Sulaiman Kire (19) identified as Fulani armed men.
The CP said they also “confessed to have invaded the Fulani camp at Aiyegunle village, at about 0200 hours on 3/11/2022 and stormed the residence of one Madaki Saidu, hacked his son, Musa Madaki to death, kidnapped Madaki Saidu and one of his grand daughters named Cumattu Madaki.”
Other suspects paraded included one Umaru Mohammed (35) who was also alleged to have conspired and kidnapped two sons, Umaru Ibrahim and Yusuf Ibrahim, who were sent on an errand to a nearby village near Oro town in Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State from Ijan Otun village on 24/10/2022.
“No sooner were the boys kidnapped than a phone call was placed to the father of the victims demanding N30m ransom for their release,” he said.
He said as soon as the information got to the command, a team of anti-kidnapping unit, vigilante and hunters were dispatched into the bush around the area for possible search, rescue and arrest of the suspects.
He said “the efforts of the teams paid off as the two victims were rescued unhurt and one of the suspects was equally arrested.”
The police commissioner also disclosed that another two suspects, Victor Olorunmayese and Lukman Musa, (25) were arrested for alleged cultism and armed robbery on 26/10/2022.
He said a report of an armed robbery attack was received by the anti-kidnapping patrol team along Offa Garage/Kilanko axis of Ilorin metropolis at about 1000 hours by Mrs Jemilat Asiyabi, a POS operator.
According to the Police Commissioner, “she was reportedly attacked and robbed of the sum of N300,000 at gunpoint by the two suspects.”
Luckily however, with the help of members of the community, the principal actor, Victor Olorunmayese, was arrested and the remaining suspects escaped but investigation led to the arrest of the second suspect with the recovery of one live cartridge, while one Lekan who is still at large escaped with the gun used for the operation.
The CP said the suspects confessed to be members of Eiye Confraternity, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest Lekan now at large.
Two other suspects, Sanni Sule, (26)/and Abdulsalam Kuta (20), who were also paraded were alleged to have abducted a cheese seller, Talatu Goma, (f), at about 1200hours at Shao Junction Moro Local Government Area of the state on 22/10/2022.
According to Lawal Abubakar, who reported the matter, Talatu Goma was on her way when two young men came out from the bush with dangerous weapons and forcefully abducted her and disappeared into the bush.
“Information also revealed that while in the bush, two other men on a motorcycle came and took the victim to another different location.
“The two phone numbers used by the kidnappers to demand for ransom were tracked and one Sanni Sule was arrested.
“During interrogation, he mentioned Abdulsalam Kuta as one of the accomplices,” the CP added.
He revealed further that another armed robbery suspect, Oluwaseyi Olaleye, was arrested over the alleged robbery of one Mrs Ogundele Mary of Aliu Estate and two others who were attacked and their belongings snatched on 08/11/2022.
The CP said it was discovered that the suspect was the same person who robbed one Okadiran Gabriel on 15/06/2022 along Pipeline road, Tanke in Ilorin metropolis.
