Command Nabs Seven Suspected Kidnappers In Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested seven persons in connection with various kidnappings in the state.

The police said the suspects claimed to be hunters from the northern part of the country.

Parading the suspects on Wednesday at the command headquarters in Akure, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the suspects were nabbed in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state, following a tip-off.

Joseph said investigation was ongoing into the matter and assured that the suspects would be charged to court at the end of the investigation.

He said, “Our men on patrol got them in Owo inside a vehicle with many locally-made guns.

“We swung into action and consequently, the suspects were arrested and taken to the station with the exhibits recovered from them.

“They claimed to be hunters from the north and were on a hunting expedition to the southern part of the country.  Investigation is still on to verify their claims.”

Also paraded by the police were one Sunday Fatoki and Adamu Mohammed, who were alleged to be receivers of stolen vehicles.

The two suspects were arrested in connection with a Toyota Camry which was stolen by some robbers and sold to the suspects.

The PPRO explained that the two suspects were arrested after some of their accomplices were arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He explained that Fatoki, a native of Ogbomosho in Oyo State, was nabbed after the police followed an intelligence report.

He said the arrest of Fatoki, who claimed to be a trader in Ibadan, led to the arrest of Muhammed in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

Fatoki, however, explained that he bought the vehicle from a man who was introduced to him by a friend.

“I bought the Toyota Camry through a friend at the sum of N850,000 and subsequently sold it out at N1.3m to an Hausa man in Kaduna, who was arrested with me.

“I never knew it was a stolen vehicle. I knew nothing about the robbery. I bought the car from them (the robbers) not knowing that it was stolen,” he said.

Joseph said the two suspects were helping the police in their investigations.