Three suspected kidnappers have been killed by operatives of the Kwara State Police Command during a shoot-out in Bode-Sadu, Moro Local Government of Kwara State.
Briefing newsmen on the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Odama, said his men, based on intelligence, mobilised vigilantes and local hunters who stormed the forest while the kidnappers were planning to strike.
“Our men engaged the kidnappers and during exchange of gun-fire, three of them, Bala Idris, Hassan Idris and Baso Idris, were neutralised while two suspects, Lagi Bala and Iliasu Idris were arrested with three locally made guns”.
He said the suspect confessed to be kidnappers and cattle rustlers who had been responsible for the series of kidnapping cases in the Malete and Shao area of Kwara State.
The CP said investigation is ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the kidnapping gang, while the two arrested suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
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Similarly, the commissioner said another set of seven suspected kidnappers were arrested by his command over alleged involvement in several abductions in the state.
The suspects were identified as Buga Ali, Suleiman Issah, Aminu Bello, Suleman Bilyah and Yahaya Adam.
Others included Yau Alhaji Anta and Idris Alhaji Auta who were said to be responsible for the recent kidnap of Alhaji Tunde Buhari and one Muhammed Mecho.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested at Eyenkorin, Oko Olowo and Shao, three notorious kidnapping hotspots in the state.
Odama, during a parade of the suspects on Monday, said his men on 23/1/2023, sighted some of the kidnappers in the bush along Eyenkorin during a routine check and engaged them in a shootout.
He said some of them escaped with bullet injuries in the process while others were arrested.
“We later received information that one suspected Fulani man was seen with bullet wounds inside the bush within Eyenkorin and policemen traced and arrested the suspect who confessed to be a member of a kidnapping syndicate that specialises in kidnapping people around the Eyenkorin and Oko-olowo axis,” he added.
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