As part of strategic measures in the fight against crime and deliberate move to rid the state of criminal elements, Oyo state police command has paraded no fewer than 31 suspects allegedly involved in various criminal activities.
The suspects were allegedly involved in various crimes ranging from kidnapping, car snatching, and armed robbery. The police also recovered no fewer than 31 vehicles, DAF 95 Truck, two tricycles, seven motorcycles, five mobile phones, and 103 imported floor rugs.
While addressing journalists at the Oyo state Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Friday, the Police Public Relation Officer, SP Adewale Osifes, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Hamzat Adebola, said the suspects would be charged to court immediately its ongoing comprehensive investigation were concluded.
Admitting to the allegations levelled against them by the police, some of the suspects, who spoke to journalists when interviewed pleaded for mercy from government.
The Police had told journalists in his address that “On 27TH July, 2023 at about 2040hrs, some suspected members of a dreaded armed robbery cum kidnapping syndicate invaded DGK Filing Station located at Elekara area, Oyo, with dangerous weapons, attacking one Alhaji Adamu ISSA, dispossessing him of his mobile phones, cash and some other dangerous weapons, they equally whisked him away to unknown destination.
“The suspects later contacted the victim’s relatives demanding for a huge ransom with threats that he (the abductee) would be killed if the huge sum is not paid forthwith. The incident was then reported at the Command for onward transfer to its Monitoring Unit who immediately swung into action with intent to rescue the victim unhurt.
“However, while the operatives were busy combing a thick forest where the victim was suspected to be held hostage, the kidnappers caught wind of the operatives and fled, providing an escape opportunity for the victim unscathed. The victim subsequently provided useful information about his abductors and further discreet intelligence based investigation later led to the arrest of six members of the criminal gang in their different hideouts and they identified themselves as ABUBAKAR SULEIMAN ‘M’, MUSA BELLO AKA MUJUMBA, MUHAMMADU AHMADU AKA JALGO, ABDULAHI ABUBAKAR AKA NODIWA, TAOREED IBRAHIM and ILU AHMADU.
“One Black Golf Car with REG NO LAGOS AGL 756 HR which they used to convey the victim away from the scene of crime and another VIBE PIONTIAC Car with REG NO ABUJA YAB 75 JY which they confessed to have purchased from proceeds (RANSOM) of their previous criminal activities were recovered.
Upon interrogations, the suspects confessed to the crime and series of other high profile armed robbery cum kidnapping attacks they had masterminded at different locations in Oyo State. Investigation is in progress, updates would be communicated accordingly, please.” Osifeso said.
53 year old Abubakar Suleiman, who hails from Nasarawa state alleged to be the leader of the kidnapping group, admitted to the crime when fielding questions from journalists, and also disclosed that it was his first time in the criminal business while expressing regrets and pleaded for mercy from the authorities.
“Yes, I am involved in the kidnapping but it was my first time, I’ve never done anything like this before. Please, government should forgive me.” Abubakar pleaded.
Items recovered by the police include one Golf car with Registration number LAGOS AGL 756 HR and one Vibe Frontier car with Registration number ABUJA YAB 75 JY.
The Police also disclosed that: “On 1st September, 2023, some suspected members of an armed robbery cum kidnapping syndicate invaded MANDE Village via ILORA area, Oyo State, attacking one USMAN ALIU and his friend simply identified as USMAN who was said to have paid him a visit having reportedly dispossessed them of their mobile phones, cash and some other valuable items by the invaders.
“The armed robbers cum kidnappers whisked the duo away to an unknown destination and after about 24hrs later, contacted the younger brother to the first victim to demand for the immediate payment of ten million naira ransom (#10,000,000) before the abductees would regain their freedom.
“The younger brother to the first victim reportedly negotiated and pleaded with members of the criminal gang to accept a sum of six million naira only (#6,000,000) after the victim had already spent four days in captivity. Eventually, a deal was made and the suspected persons instructed the payment be made at a designated desolate location with assurances that the victims would immediately regain their freedom.
“Consequent on the above and after payment of the ransom, the suspects rescinded on the initial agreement which was to release the victim after 24hrs later, instead, made another demand for an additional one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) under the pretext that the money they had initially collected was one hundred thousand naira short of what was requested. At the long run, the victim’s family hence, summoned up courage to reach out to the Command and the matter was swiftly transferred to its Monitoring Unit for investigation.
“After painstaking investigations, one of the suspects, ALI ABDULAHI ‘M’ was arrested and upon interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the armed robbery cum kidnapping of the two victims. Further painstaking investigations led to the arrest of one other suspect, LANSHIMA IBRAHIM who confessed to have procured criminal charms to fortify the lead suspect against being arrested by the Police.
Investigation is now in progress; further developments will be communicated later.”
Other crime suspects arrested and paraded by the police include notorious car hijacking syndicate, armed robbers with specialty in highway hijacking and diversion of heavy duty Trucks and Trailers recovering a Toyota Corolla car with Reg number EKY 251 GR.
The lead suspect, one Moses Olatunji Isaac; a native of Saki from Oyo state, who had been previously remanded in a correctional facility admitted to the diversion of a DAF 95 Truck containing 130 imported floor rugs.
Speaking with journalists, Moses who confessed to have been in the hijacking and diversion of stolen properties since 2022 said: “I’m here because I was arrested for diversion of floor rugs. I once did diversion of power generating set but it was recovered by the police in the process of trying to get a buyer.
“I was not directly involved in the diversion of the floor rugs, it was the ‘motor boy’ that called me through someone that his boss was not around and that he wanted to take some of the materials, then he called me.”
Asked if he was aware what he involved himself in is a crime under the law, the suspect admitted by saying: “yes, I’m aware, and I’ve confessed to the police.
