Metro

Kwara Police Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Arms

Published

3 years ago

December 21, 2022

Editor

Five suspected kidnappers have been arrested by anti-kidnapping operatives of the Kwara State Police Command.

The five suspects belong to two separate gangs of kidnappers.

Members of the first gang include Babagida Buguda, 30, described as a kingpin, Bashiru Yakuba, 35, and Mohammed Umaru, 26.

Parading the suspects at the state police command headquarters in Ilorin on Wednesday, the state Police Commissioner, Paul Odama, said they were arrested on December 20, 2022, in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun Local Government of the state.

According to the police boss, exhibits allegedly recovered from them included two locally made guns and two mobile phones.

According to Odama: “On 9th November 2022, at about 5:45 pm, one Mr Shina Luke Abiodun of Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, and one other, while riding on a motorcycle on their way from Egbe in Kogi State were accosted at Koro village close to Eruku town by men numbering about six, who emerged from the bush armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

“The hoodlums opened fire on them and they sustained gunshot injuries. They, however, escaped the attack and ran to the Anti-Kidnapping patrol team stationed at Eruku town.

“The team moved to the scene and one Tecno phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the phone by the investigators led to the arrest of the kingpin and two of his gang members in Oro-Ago, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara state on 20th December 2022.”

The police commissioner said the suspects confessed during interrogation to have been responsible for kidnapping operations within Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states respectively.

“One of their victims and his six-year-old son came from Ekiti State to identify and confirmed that they were kidnapped and held captive for six days by the suspects and were released after payment of N6m.

“The suspects also confessed to have also killed one Inspector Segun Ayegbulu of the NSCDC attached to Ekiti Command,” the police commissioner added.

He said further Investigation into the matter led to the recovery of two locally made pistols, while efforts are also ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang and recover the remaining firearms in their possession.

The second gang of suspected kidnappers comprising Garuba Abubakar, aka Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam of Ile Nam, Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, were arrested for the alleged kidnap of 15-year-old Abubakar Mohammed along Oke-Ode -Share Road in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State.

According to the account of the Police Commissioner: “On 12th December 2022, intelligence available to the command indicated that one Abubakar Mohammed, 15, was kidnapped along Oke-Ode – Share road, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State.”

The report prompted the Commissioner of Police to dispatch a team of State Intelligent Bureau (SIB) and conventional Police from the Oke-Ode Division.

A diligent investigation led to the arrest of Garuba Abubakar aka Elero of Lokongoma village and Abubakar Adam of Ile Nam Oke-Ode, Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State who are members of the kidnap gang.

He disclosed that they confessed to having collected the N500,000 ransom paid by the victim.

CP Paul Odama added that the leader of the gang, identified as Chairman Rabiu who is presently at large, is said to be in possession of the gang’s firearm and always took custody of all ransom collected as confessed by two arrested suspects.

Efforts are in top gear to get him arrested, while all the suspects would soon be charged to court soon, he stated.

The police commissioner who vowed that the command will make Kwara State uncomfortable for criminals advised them to leave the state.

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.

Metro

Man, 49, Arrested For Allegedly Defiling 13-year-old Girl In Oyo

Published

4 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a 49-year-old man, Peter Adubi, in connection with the alleged defilement of a 13-year-old girl.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade.

According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended after the victim’s guardian reported the incident to the police on January 8, 2026, at about 8:50 p.m.

Ayanlade explained that the guardian became concerned after observing unusual sexual-related behavioural changes in the minor.

Upon gentle questioning, the girl disclosed that she had been sexually abused in 2022 while living with her mother in the Molade area of Ibadan.

He said, “Upon receipt of the report, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect (Adubi) allegedly committed the offence during that period. This disclosure provided the basis for immediate medical intervention to establish the facts of the case.

“Consequently, the minor was taken to the hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed sexual abuse. This medical evidence strengthened the case against the suspect and guided the next steps in the investigation.

“As a result, the suspect (Adubi) was taken into custody. The crime scene was visited, and the case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Gender Desk, for a discreet and thorough investigation.”

The Police Command assured residents that justice would be diligently pursued and urged them to remain vigilant, reporting any incidents of sexual abuse promptly, as community cooperation is vital in safeguarding children and ensuring a safer society.

Metro

20-year-old Arrested For Allegedly Defiling Minor

Published

4 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Bauchi State Police command has arrested a 20-year-old man, Bilal Ya’u, for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The girl’s father was said to have reported the incident at the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters on January 6, 2026.

The father said the suspect, who is their neighbour, lured his daughter into an uncompleted building on January 5 where he assaulted her.

Police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, in a statement issued on Saturday stated that upon receipt of the report, detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kadiri Danjuma, visited the scene while the victim was taken to the General Hospital, Alkaleri, for medical examination.

According to the him, the suspect who was later arrested confessed to committing the act during interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a thorough investigation, after which the suspect will be profiled and charged to court.

According to DAILY POST, the incident is among a series of rape cases recorded in the area. Earlier, police arrested a 28-year-old man, Baffa’ji Abba, for allegedly raping his neighbour’s eight-year-old daughter in the same local government.