Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a dismissed policeman, Mr. Ayo Samuel, in connection with alleged cases of kidnappings and robberies that had been perpetrated in the state and environs in recent time.
The police also nabbed a housewife, Ms. Sule Nana, for allegedly planning to dupe her husband of the sum of N50,000 by faking her own kidnap.
Parading the dismissed cop yesterday among other kidnap suspects in Ado Ekiti, the State’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Tunde Mobayo, said that Samuel has confessed to be a member of kidnapping gang that had participated in different kidnappings and robberies in the state.
On the woman who faked her own abduction, the police boss, said the suspect was arrested by the police, after intensive investigation.
Mobayo, who was represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said that the RRS operatives on November 20, 2021, got a distress call from one Nana that she was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Ifaki-Oye-Ekiti Road, alongside other passengers.
He said: “She called her husband that the kidnappers were demanding a sum of N50,000 as ransom before she could be released. The RRS operatives in their incesyifation combed the bush along Ifaki/Oye-Ekiti before it was later discovered that Nana kidnapped herself to get money from her relatives. She has confessed to the commission of the crime.”
Mobayo also paraded a fugitive suspect, Mr. Dele Jimoh and Mr. Ayeni Blessing, who were among the kidnap kingpins that abducted a petrol dealer, Mr. Suleiman Akinbami, in Ado Ekiti on January 10, 2021.
The police commissioner added that the arrest was sequel to the earlier nabbing of one Adebayo Akeem Banji , Ogunremi Bunmi , Ige Adu and Jimoh Fayoke, on November 6, 2021, for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
Mobayo said that Dele and Blessing allegedly fled upon realising that some of the members of his criminal gang had been nabbed by RRS operatives and had made confessional statements.
“Police investigation also led to the arrest of one Johnson Apotire, who confessed to be a member of the notorious kidnapping gang and further stated that he usually impersonate Fulani herdsmen due to his physical resemblance to a Fulani man.
Dele was arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State. He confessed to be the third in command of the notorious kidnapping gang. He stated that he specializes in burglary and stealing, including motorcycle and had burgled more than ten shops/houses, carted away more than 12 motorcycles.”
Mobayo also paraded one Mr. Mubarak Bello and his accomplice, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, for allegedly masterminding the kidnap of Shekinah Abdulahi and demanded a sum of N50,000 as ransom.
He saluted the military, NSCDC, Amotekun, local hunters, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support that had helped the command in clamping down on criminal elements across the state.
