In his address to the press the Commissioner of Police announced that the perpetrators of the kidnapping cases recorded in the first quarter of 2024 have been arrested and they are the syndicates being paraded here today. Investigation has also been concluded and they will soon face prosecution in court.
The police boss also stated that the command has arrested criminals responsible for terrorizing innocent travelers along Sagamu/Ijebu-Ode axis through a discreet investigation in their hideout they are
1AZEEZ ABOLAJI ALESE ‘M’, AGE 42YRS
2. ONOKRESE JACOB ‘M’ AGE 34YRS
3. HENRY GAGA EMMANUEL ‘M’ AGE 34YRS
4. JOSEPH UDOMA ‘M’ AGE 42YRS
5. ABIOLA ODUYEMI ‘M’ AGE 41YRS
6. ABBEY EMMANUEL ‘M’ AGE 34YRS
7. JIMOH KAREEM ‘M’ AGE 39YRS
These vicious syndicate attacked a woman named Busari Abiola while trying to drive into her premises by her gate in Sagamu, Ogun State. She was subsequently kidnapped and driven away in her unregistered 2009 Ash-colored Corolla.
The kidnappers later released her, taking only the vehicle.
These criminal gang double crossed one Adebayo Olabisi, on the 17th of May, 2024, at about 20:10hrs in the Irewon area of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and whisked her away in her white Highlander Jeep, with registration number BDG 125 HZ, to an unknown destination.
weeks after the first two kidnapping incidents,on the 2nd of June, 2024, at about 18:00hrs, the same criminal gang abducted one Omosehin Tanwa from Itamogiri, Ijebu Mushin, Ogun State, taking her to an unknown destination.
This kidnapping gang in similar pattern, attacked one Segun Adebanjo on the 14th of July, 2024, at about 23:00hrs, and drove him away in his red Toyota Camry.
The same gang gained access into the compound of one Uruakpa Elizabeth “F”, a nurse from Babcock University, after close of work at her gate, pointed a gun at her and took her away in her unregistered red Toyota Camry.
A member of the gang Abiola Oduyemi, was arrested on the 3rd of October, 2024,in his possession of a branded key holder of Babcock university and a shuttle bag belonging to one of the kidnapped victims.
In the course of interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the series of kidnapping cases recorded in the State and provided valuable information that resulted in the arrest of his other accomplices..
Azeez Abolaji Alese the gang leader was discovered to rely on talisman, often referred to as a criminal charm, to guide his actions before targeting victims he orchestrated numerous kidnapping incidents, extorting ransoms before releasing his victims.
It should be noted he has been earlier arrested on January 14, 2016, for kidnapping an expatriate along Sagamu-Ogijo road and currently facing charges in court the police boss declared and he was apprehended again by the Oyo State Police Command on August 28th, 2022, for kidnapping two women in Ibadan and currently has an ongoing charge at the High Court, Ibadan.
Alese was released on bail on April 26th, 2024, but instead of changing his ways, he formed a new gang and resumed kidnapping operations starting from May 16th, 2024, until his eventual arrest by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Ogun State Command.
Further profiling of every other arrested suspects, assisted the Police to streamline the individual roles played by the suspects. One Joseph Udoma revealed his role in supplying information to the gang; he was previously involved in the kidnapping of a journalist in Ijebu-Ode in 2023 and had sustained bullet injuries during a police rescue operation.
A Browning pistol was recovered from Henry Gaga Emmanuel, which was used in their kidnapping and robbery endeavors. Two notorious kidnappers, known as Salami Rasheed from Saki, Oyo State, and Jimoh Kareem from Kosubosu, Kwara State, are the syndicate’s amourers who specialize in procuring locally made pistols and ammunition to the gang, and they also negotiated the sale of the stolen vehicles to neighboring Niger Republic for eventual sale.
Abbey Ogunbanwo, who is also a member of the syndicate, was responsible for ensuring the gangs’ needs are met by providing food for the kidnapped victims while being held in their captivity in Ososa forest.
EXHIBITS FOUND ON THE CRIMINAL GANG
1. ONE BROWNING PISTOL GUN
2. ONE HELMENT JEEP WITH REGISRATION NO. AYT 88 MS
3. ONE TOYOTA CAMRY CAR WITH REGISTRATION NO. KTU 406 JL
4. ONE HONDA ELEMENT JEEP WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER AYT 88 MS
5. TWO SCHOOL BAGS
6. TWO SCHOOL LUNCH BAGS AND ONE SHUTTLE BAG
7. ONE BABCOCK UNIVERSITY KEY HOLDER
8. CRIMINAL CHARMS
Further highlighting the command achievements the commissioner of police said the State has largely remained peaceful, with the latest arrests of one Onoriode Augustine, a 33-year-old man, while the suspect named Akpan has been on the run.
This gang specifically target children for kidnapping snce they began this illegal activity, they have taken more than ten children, who were subsequently returned to their families after ransoms were paid.
They also informed the police that they orchestrated the abductions that occurred in Ijebu Ode, where Adeogun Oluwasegun and Jonathan Favour were kidnapped using similar deceptive tactics, such as pretending to rent a battery and seeking to lease an apartment on September 17th and 22nd.
SUSPECT:
1. ONORIODE AUGUSTINE ‘M’ AGE:- 33YRS
EXHIBIT:-
1. ONE TECNO ANDROID PHONE.
Another suspect Philip Ogunaike, a serial killer was also paraded gave false names, and example was in CID, Panti, Lagos State where he provided his name as Philip Moyinola. Also recalling Aisha Bello ‘f’, a 14yr old who resided in Agbado, now late was raped by Philip Ogunaike ‘m’ and Essien Micheal Ndifreke ‘m’ who both strangulated the late Aishat Bello, and one Joseph Daniel ‘m’ assisted in taking her remains to river-side and dumped her.
The commissioner of police while addressing the said the anti-kidnapping team has shown remarkable expertise and professionalism in their efforts to ensure that all those involved in these kidnappings are apprehended without leaving any detail unchecked.
In light of these developments, all suspects have provided confessional statements, and the public can be assured that peace has been restored in the State.
This situation also provides an opportunity for him to advise members of the public to plan their travels carefully and to exercise caution when interacting with strangers. The cases being examined illustrate that the victims often became easy targets due to their careless trust in individuals of dubious character.
The