2 Arrested As Police Smash Kidnapping Gang In Oyo

Men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Oyo State Police command have arrested two persons who are said to be part of a gang terrorising the people in the state.

The police said their mode of operation was to run detailed background checks on unsuspected victims and then inform them through writing of his intentions to abduct them unless a stipulated amount of money could be sourced and paid.

The commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams who disclosed this in Ibadan, reiterated the commands resolute in making the state inhabitable for criminally minded and other unscrupulous elements in the state with the adoption of distinctive and multifaceted crime tackling approach premised on improved communal partnerships and technology aided inquiries.

According to him, investigations revealed that on Thursday, members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate sent an ‘’Hand-Written” note to the management of a private university institution in Oyo town wherein they threatened to abduct three of its students should the management failed to pay-up N10,000,000 within a stipulated period.
The threat, he added, had affected academic activities within the university, stirring up panic and uncertainty among the university community.
“In euphoria of what they presumed was a successful scheme, and blinded with greed, they decided to extend a similar (hand-written) notification to a branch office of a new generation bank within Owode Area, Oyo with the intentions of invading it later in the week.
“Discreet forensic based investigations were carried out and this led to the arrest of one Azeez Mufutau whose phone numbers were inscribed on the ‘’Hand-written notes’’ sent to both the school management and bank.

“The suspect confirmed that the phone number on the note was his but denied being the author of the document.

“The investigation further led to the arrest of one Olarinde Adekunle (37) who confessed as to being the author of the hand-written notes under scrutiny and added that Azeez Mufutau was used as a decoy for the purpose of concealing his direct involvement”, the police boss said, adding “Investigation is now in progress and further developments will be communicated accordingly”.