Operatives of the Ogun State police command have arrested four suspected kidnappers who abducted the Bishop of Prayer City, Oladimeji Joshua, and other residents of the state.
It was gathered that the suspects were said to be members of a notorious kidnap gang terrorising Abeokuta and its environs.
The gang reportedly abducted the cleric two months ago along with other residents of Ibara-Orile and Soyoye in the Abeokuta-North Local Government Area of the state.
This was revealed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Oyeyemi said the suspects; Ismaila Ibrahim, 21, Musa Muhammed, 26, Irekura Abu,43, and Okanlawon Muhammed, 26, were arrested following a series of kidnap cases at Soyooye and Ibara Orile area of Abeokuta.
The PPRO explained, “having received reports of kidnap cases in the aforementioned area, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, directed the Anti-kidnapping team to move into the area and fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“In compliance with the CP’s directive, the SP Taiwo Opadiran led team embarked on a technical and intelligence-based investigation, which led them to one of the suspects Irukura Abu, who was later discovered to be the supplier of guns to the hoodlums.
“His arrest led to the arrest of Musa Muhammed, while he was coming out from their hideout to buy food for their victims and members of the gang.
“The duo, after thorough investigation confessed to being members of a kidnap gang who are responsible for the abduction of one Bishop Oladimeji Joshua of prayer city, Keesan Abeokuta, on the 22nd of September 2022.
“They also informed the police that they were responsible for the kidnap of one Kafayat Jelili of the Ogo titun area of Ibara Orile on September 27 2022.
“Their confession led to the arrest of the remaining two, Ismaila Ibrahim and Okanlawon Muhammed.
“Recovered from them are; two double barrel guns and one single barrel long gun.”
Oyeyemi however, said the Commissioner of Police commended the Anti-kidnapping unit for the breakthrough and has ordered that the suspects be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
Oyeyemi added that the commissioner has also directed a massive manhunt for other members of the gang who are presently on the run, with a view to bringing them to justice.
