The Kwara State Police Command, on Sunday
neutralized three suspected kidnappers and arrested nine others in a major
crackdown on kidnapping activities and harvest of kidnap suspects.
The neutralized persons were identified as
Bala Idris, Hasan Idris, and Baso Idris, while three locally made guns and ten
cartridges were recovered after an exchange of gunfire with the police,
Vigilantes and local hunters.
Two other suspects belonging to the
neutralized persons gang, Lagi Bala and Iliasu Idris, were however arrested.
At a press briefing in Ilorin on Monday,
state Commissioner of Police, Paul Odama, disclosed that
“On the 22/1/2023 at about 0900HRS an
intelligence available to the Divisional Police Officer, Bode Sadu to the
effect that suspected kidnappers were in the bush along Balogun area, Bode
Saadu in preparation to strike.
“The DPO Mobilized Vigilantes, hunters and
police men, stormed the bush and they engaged the kidnappers, during exchange
of gun-fire, three of the kidnappers were neutralized while two suspects Lagi
Bala “M” and Iliasu Idris “M” were arrested with 3 locally made guns.”
The police Commissioner said the arrested
suspects confessed to be kidnappers and cattle rustlers. They also confessed to
be responsible for the series of kidnapping cases in Malete and Shao area of
Kwara State.
Investigation is ongoing to arrest the
remaining members of the kidnapping gang, while the two arrested suspects would
be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, he added.
In the same vein, according to the police boss,
“on 21/1/2023 at about 1400HRS, the divisional police officer of Eiyenkorin
Division, in collaboration with vigilante and local hunters in carrying out the
directive of the commissioner of police regarding a zero tolerance for
kidnapping, stormed the Eyenkorin thick forest to search the hide-outs of
kidnappers.”
Paul Odama revealed that in the shooting
encounter with the suspected kidnappers sighted in the bush, some suspects
escaped with bullet injuries, while some were arrested.
“At about 1600HRS of 21/01/2023,
information was received that one suspected Fulani man was seen with bullet
wounds inside the bush within Eyenkorin.”
He said policemen traced and arrested the
suspect, during interrogation the suspect confessed to be a member of a kidnap
syndicate that specializes in kidnapping people around Eyenkorin-Oko-olowo
axis.
“He mentioned one Alhaji Anta now at large
as the leader of the gang, while five other suspects arrested included Buga Ali
“M” ,Suleiman ISSAH ‘M’ ( 20YRS), AMINU BELLO ‘M’, SULEMAN BILIYAH ‘M’ (21) and
YAHAHA ADAM ‘M’ (20) who will all be charged to court as soon as investigation
is over.”
He further revealed that in another
successful operation around Eyenkorin-Oko-olowo axis, based on an actionable
intelligence, two more kidnappers by name Yau Alhaji Anta and Idris Alhaji Auta
were arrested.
Paul Odama said the suspects confessed to be responsible for the kidnap of the two kidnapped victims in Oluwalose community, Oko-Olowo area of Ilorin, one Alhaji Tunde Buhari and one Muhammed Mecho.
“When brought together, the Victim
identified one of the suspects as one of his abductors and the suspects would
soon be charged to court after investigation.
Two other suspects were also paraded for
alleged motorcycle theft, and criminal trespass, mischief and theft.
“They are Yusuf Arowolo and Issah Shuaib, who
were paraded for criminal trespass and theft, while another suspect, Emmanuel
Joshua of Ajelanwa, Phase One, Zango area, Ilorin, was arrested for allegedly
breaking into one Issah Shuaib’s house and made away with a TVS motorcycle with
registration number Afon 752 VD, valued N700,000.”
Paul Odama, warned would-be criminals of
whatever nomenclature that the command is all out to see that they are rounded
up and sent to where they belong.