The police in Ogun State have arrested nine suspected members of a notorious kidnap syndicate terrorising commuters on Abeokuta-Ayetoro Road.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday in their hideout at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro Road, Abeokuta, by detectives in collaboration with local hunters, So-Safe Corps, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), vigilantes and men of Amotekun corps.
Police spokesperson said credible intelligence gathered by policemen attached to Sabo/Ilupeju divisional police headquarters revealed that two of the suspects, Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh, served as errand okada riders for the kidnap syndicate.
The two were sighted somewhere in Rounder area of Abeokuta North local government, prompting the Divisional Police Officer for Sabo/Ilupeju division, Mustapha Opawoye, to moblise men to the area, where they were apprehended.
The suspects confessed being part of the syndicate, but said they were just errand boys watching out for law enforcement agents, according to the police.
“The confession of the two led to the discovery of the hideout of the group at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro Road, where they always met after collecting ransom from their victims.
“Having discovered the hideout, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised his men, So-Safe Corps, OPC men, local hunters and men of Amotekun corps and subsequently stormed the place where all the nine members of the syndicate were arrested.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects are the group terrorising Abeokuta/Ayetoro Road in recent times. Some of their victims have been able to identify them as their abductors,” Oyeyemi said.
Commissioner of Police Lanre Bankole has ordered the transfer of the suspects to anti-kidnapping section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department (CID) for further investigation.