Nigeria Police Discover Another Kidnappers’ Den in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria

Nigeria police in Oyo State have uncovered another kidnappers’ den, where atrocities were being committed at Oyagbe, Oyo town.

Commissioner of Police Muhammad Katsina, who led reporters to the den yesterday, said the place was a deserted hotel belonging to a businessman, Olatunji Kabiru, who is already in police custody.

The police chief added that his operatives had arrested five suspects in connection with the incident.

Katsina, while parading the suspects, added that a victim, Husseni Sani, was rescued from the suspected kidnappers.

The kidnappers, he said, came from Benin Republic through Kwara State before settling at the Atiba Local Government Area.

The police commissioner said: “Today, we are happy to announce that a ground-breaking discovery was made yet again and this time in Oyo town, where some wicked individuals kidnapped a fellow human for ransom.

“We have so far arrested five people connected with the crime, including the hotelier, and the victim is now in our custody.

The hotelier, who is a former councillor of Ward 1 of the council, said that the kidnappers came to him and asked for three rooms for two weeks.

He claimed that a deposit of N5,000 was paid to him.

Kabiru said that he was not aware that they were kidnappers and that he got to know about their activities when the police contacted him.

The kidnapped victim, who trades in cattle, lives at Ikoyi Ile in Kajoola Local Government.

He said he was kidnapped in Ogbomoso and fed with rice and Coke for 14 days.

Sani said the kidnappers demanded N1 million and threatened to kill him and his elder brother, if he was unable to pay.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, hailed the police and other security agencies for arresting the suspected kidnappers.

He said the prompt move contributed to the discovery of the hideout, advising community’s members to be more careful in their activities.

“I thank men of the police and other security agencies for a job well done for bursting the crimes in this part of the state, which is very surprising to us in this area. The prompt actions of the police contributed to the immense discovery of the kidnappers. I must add that such people should not be allowed to exist in our societies.

“I have to say at this juncture that it is everybody’s duty to be alert over the happenings in their environment and keep the police informed about dangerous activities in their environment,” the Alaafin said.

Source:
The Nation Newspaper