Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested two men suspected to be responsible for the kidnapping of a couple in Bisodun village in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government area of the state.
PUNCH Metro had on Wednesday reported that residents of Kori-Oja and Bisodun villages as well as neighbouring communities in the local government are currently living in fear over increasing cases of kidnapping in their area.
The report indicated that suspected kidnappers on Monday invaded Bisodun village where a man and his wife were abducted.
On Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, announced that two suspects have been arrested in relation to the abduction.
Oyeyemi said the suspects, Mohammed Bello and Mohammed Bashiru, were arrested following a distress call received from the people of the village at about 8pm.
Confirming PUNCH Metro’s report, the PPRO said the kidnappers had earlier invaded the community and abducted a couple he identified as Mr and Mrs Ojo.
The statement read, “Two suspected kidnappers were on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, arrested by operatives of Ogun State Police Command and two kidnapped victims were rescued from them.
“Upon the distress call, the DPO Owode Egba Division, CSP Olasunkanmi Popoola, raced to the scene where he met local hunters who have already mobilised in large numbers to confront the kidnappers.
“The policemen, together with the hunters, stormed the forest in search of the kidnappers and the victims.
“While combing the bush, the kidnappers suddenly opened fire on the rescue team which the security men responded to, but one of the hunters was unfortunately hit by the bullet.
“Having been overwhelmed by the firing from the police and the hunters, the kidnappers abandoned the victims and ran for cover.
“The abducted victims and the injured hunter were quickly rushed to the hospital but, the hunter, Adebare Ramoni, gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.”
The police spokesperson said the villagers alerted the police the following morning that the suspects were sighted somewhere in the bush and policemen were drafted to the scene.
He said policemen and hunters stormed the bush and apprehended two suspects.
“The two arrested suspects have been identified by the victims as members of the gang who abducted them,” he added.
According to Oyeyemi, the state Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, has commended the hunters for their support and ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
