The Kwara state police command Wednesday revealed how a forensic analysis of telephone sets recovered by its team of crack detectives led to the arrest of three members of kidnappers’ gang operating in EKiti, Kogi and Kwara states.
The names of the arrested members of the gan were given as Babagida Buguda ‘m’ 30yrs, Bashiru Yakuba ‘m’ 35yrs and Mohammed Umaru ‘m’ 26yrs.
The state Commissioner of Police, Paul Udama, who paraded the suspects and two others arrested with in connection with another case of kidnapping, in Ilorin said, “Two locally made guns, and two telephone handsets were recovered from the suspects.”
He said the suspects numbering about six had on November 9 2011 at Koro village close to Eruku, accosted their victims – one Mr. Shina Luke Abiodun ‘m’ of Eruku town in Ekiti local government area of Kwara state, and one other, while riding on a motorcycle on their way from Egbe in Kogi, state and opend fire on them.
He said the suspects “who emerged from the bush armed with guns and other dangerous weapons opened fire on them and they sustained gunshot injuries.
“They however escaped the attack and ran to the Anti-Kidnapping patrol team stationed at Eruku town.
“The team moved to the scene and one Techno Phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the phone by the investigators led to the arrest of the kingpin and two of his gang members in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara state on 20/12/2022.
“The suspects confessed during interrogation to have been responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states respectively.
“One of their victims and his six year old son came from Ekiti state to identify and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects and were released after payment of N 6 million .
“The suspects also confessed to have also killed one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu of the NSCDC attached to Ekiti Command.
“Further Investigation into the matter led to the recovery of two locally made pistols. Efforts are also ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang and recovery of the remaining fire-arms in their possession.”
Similarly, the CP said, “On 12/12/2022, intelligence available to the command indicated that one Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ 15 yrs old has been kidnapped along Oke-Ode – Share road, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State. This prompted the commissioner of Police to dispatch a team of State Intelligent Bureau (SIB) and conventional Police from Oke-Ode Division.
“Diligent investigation led to the arrest of one Garuba Abubakar ‘m’ A.K.A. Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam ‘m’ of Ile Nam Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara state who are member of the kidnapping syndicate, they confessed to have been the collector of the N500, 000 paid by the victim.
“The leader of the gang one Chairman Rabiu ‘m’ who is presently at large is said to be in possession of the gang fire arm and always in custody of all ransom collected as confessed by two arrested suspects. Efforts is on top gear to get him arrested. All the suspects would soon be charged to court
“The command is stating for the umpteenth time, that Kwara state would not be made comfortable for Criminals, therefore, criminal elements are adviced to leave Kwara State, as plans are firmly on ground to make Kwara state hot and uncomfortable for Criminal elements.”
