Police have nabbed nine members of a notorious kidnap syndicate terrorizing Abeokuta-Ayetoro road in Ogun State.
The suspects are: Hammed Taiwo; Kehinde Jimoh; Umar Sanda; Sanda Aliu; Ali Morandu; Usman Abubakar; Usman Mohammed; Umaru Ahmadu and Umaru Momodu.
They were arrested on Sunday in their hideout at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro Road, Abeokuta by the police who worked in collaboration with local hunters, So Safe Corps, OPC, Vigilante and men of Amotekun corps.
The spokesman of the police in Ogun State, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said they were arrested following a credible intelligence gathered by policemen at Sabo/Ilupeju divisional headquarters, that Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh who were errand okada riders to the kidnap syndicate were sighted somewhere in Rounder area of Abeokuta North local government.
Upon the information, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Sabo/Ilupeju division, SP Mustapha Opawoye, quickly moblised his men and moved to the area, where the duo of Hammed Taiwo and Kehinde Jimoh were apprehended.
On interrogation, they confessed to being part of the syndicate, but that their own role was to run errands and watch the environment to prevent law enforcement agents from getting to them unaware.
Their confession led to the discovery of the hideout of the group at Abule Oba, off Ayetoro Road, where they were said to always meet after collecting ransom from their victims.
Having discovered the hideout, the DPO 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.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are the group terrorizing Abeokuta/Ayetoro Road in recent time.
Some of their victims have been able to identify them as their abductors.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who expressed satisfaction about the intelligence-based investigation carried out by his men which led to the arrest of the hoodlums has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti-kidnapping section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.