From Bola Ogunlayi, Ibadan.
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested suspected kidnappers terrorising Lagos/Ibadan expressway in recent times.
Cash of N7.5 million, four AK-47 rifles, 75 AK-47 live ammunition, two pairs of military camouflage and one police beret were recovered from them.
The suspects are Mohammadu Salfa, Usman Hassan, Muhammadu Salfa, Muhammadu Bello and Mikailu Yahaya.
The Lagos-Ibadan expressway has become a nightmare with road users plying the roads in gasped breath.
Prof. Adigun Agbaje, a former Deputy Vice-chancellor (academics) of the University of Ibadan (UI), was among the victims.
Parading the suspects at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the spokesman of the command, Adewale Osifeso, said the suspects heightened thier dastardly act by also attacking a team of policemen.
The officers were reportedly heeding distress call to rescue abducted persons.An inspector was killed in a shootout melee with the kidnappers.
Osifeso said the suspected kidnappers whisked their victims away to an unknown destination through the thick forest along the expressway.
They had also contacted relatives for ransom.
“In one of the most coordinated reconnaissance operations in the history of the Command, all operational, tactical and intelligence assets were collapsed and fused as one to attain the goal of the immediate rescue of the abductees unhurt and the apprehension of their abductors for prosecution.
“The Oyo State Police Command, in a technological intelligence-aided operation, and with necessary support from Amotekun (the Oyo State Security Network) and other community partners, apprehended the duo of Babangida Buhari Awalu and Kabiru Aliyu.
“Both are commercial motorcyclists and couriers for the kidnap syndicate.
They were arrested while retrieving ‘exchange money’ for other members of the syndicate around Ojoo Area, Ibadan.
“Further detailed and painstaking investigations led to the arrest of five members of the criminal gang.
“Three additional suspects gave their names as Adewuyi Sunday, Ayanwola Gbenga and Rafiu Abdulmajeed from the Gbugbu area of Kwara State and Ago-Are in Oyo State respectively.
“It was also discovered that monies received from the victims were moved into the bank accounts of these three additional suspects for onward distribution to other members of the kidnapping syndicate.”
Various sums of money running into millions of naira,four AK 47 riffles,Soldier camouflage uniforms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
Police authorities Saud they would soon be charged and prosecuted at the law court.