Three nabbed for killing mobile money operator in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has reportedly arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the killing of a 22-year-old mobile money operator, Adetutu Ibrahim.

Adetutu was shot dead by suspected robbers at her shop, located at the Oke Ogba area of Akure last year and the police had been after the killers since then.

The hoodlums had stormed her shop on a motorcycle and pretended to be customers, who wanted to transact business with her.

A police source said the suspects were among the hoodlums recently apprehended by the men of the command.

“One of the suspects was apprehended in Minna, Niger State. He was arrested after the men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad tracked his mobile phone number, which led them to his hideout in Niger State, where he was apprehended,” the source said.

The source, however, declined to reveal the identities of the suspected killers.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said some suspected criminals were recently arrested but he could not ascertain if the murder suspects were among them.

“It is true that we made some arrests recently, but I can’t confirm if those who killed the young woman were among those apprehended. But all the suspects will be paraded as soon as the Commissioner of Police gives the go ahead,” Ikoro stated.

In a related development, four persons have been shot by armed robbers, who attacked a mobile money shop in the Panyam community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

It was learnt on Monday that the victims, said to be customers of the mobile money operator, Ifeanyi Ude, were being attended to when the robbers stormed the place and started shooting, a development which caused panic in the community.

A resident of the community, who gave his name as Dakok, said the incident happened on Sunday.

Dakok stated, “It was around 10pm on Sunday when the robbers came to the Panyam community. They headed straight for the PoS shop belonging to Mr Ifeanyi Ude.

“Immediately they entered the shop, we heard gunshots and we concluded that they had killed the PoS operator.

“After the robbers had left, we got to know that Ude was left untouched, but the four persons they met in his shop were shot and wounded.”

The Mangu Divisional Police Officer, Mr Yusuf Balami, confirmed the incident, saying, “It is true that armed robbers attacked the PoS shop, stole an undisclosed amount of money and left behind four wounded persons.”

He said when his office received a distress call, he immediately mobilised his men to the scene, but “before we could get there, the robbers had finished their operation and left.”

Balami also stated that the four persons shot had been taken to the COCIN Rural Health Hospital, Panyam, for treatment.

The DPO said although no arrest had been made, efforts were being made to apprehend those behind the robbery.