The Ondo State Police Command has arrested the kidnappers of Islamic cleric, Alli Ibrahim Bodunde, who was kidnapped in the Uso community in Owo Local Government Area of the state a few weeks ago.
The 67-year-old Chief Imam of the Uso community was abducted by the suspects at his farm located at Asolo camp. He was released after N2m was paid by the community.
Parading the suspects at the police headquarters Igbatoro Road in Akure, the state capital, the Police Spokesperson
Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said the suspects are Muinah Mohammed (19), Aisha Bello (20) and Isah Bello (40).
Odunlami-Omisanya said; “on the 18th of June, 2023, one Mrs Bodunde around 6pm went to the Uso division to complain that her husband, Alli Ibrahim Bodunde went to the farm and he was supposed to come back around 2pm but unfortunately he is yet to be back.
“When the family members did not see him, they sent two persons to the farm to look for him.
“When they got to the farm, they met his car and his mobile phone but they could not see him.
“And immediately the case was reported, the police swung into action, and at the end of the day, the man was released.
“But in the cause of the investigation, we realized that the man in question is the Chief Imam of the Uso community.
“Through our intelligence team, we were able to arrest the suspects and at the end of the investigations, the suspects will be charged in court.”
Meanwhile, the kidnapped victim and Chief Imam of Uso, Alhaji Alli Ibrahim Bodunde, disclosed that the suspects made him trek for six hours in the forest.
Narrating his ordeal, the Muslim cleric, said he was beaten for his inability to speak English during his interrogation by the suspected kidnappers.
The cleric said he was not given food or water for 48 hours during his stay at the den of the kidnappers despite the N2m ransom paid by his family.
According to him, his abductors had information about him as they reeled out his dossier to him.
While saying they were unable to collect his phone because they couldn’t see where he kept it, the Chief Imam disclosed that the abductors insisted that he should speak to them in pidgin English and must not speak Yoruba.
He said,” Each time i mistakenly speak Yoruba, they always beat me. When we arrived at a place, they put my back on a tree and tied my hands to my back. My legs were also tied. Negotiation with my family by the Kidnappers started when the leader of the gang joined us at the hideout.”
Alhaji Bodunde disclosed that his abductors demanded N10 million ransom for his release, but eventually, his family paid N2m before they led him back to his farm and released him.
When police detectives began an investigation into the abduction, they tracked the telephone number used for the negotiation with the family, and 40–year-old Isah Bello was arrested.
