The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, says six suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent deadly attack in Oke-Ode, where 15 people, including a village head, were killed.
Ojo disclosed this while addressing journalists on Friday in Ilorin, at the command headquarters, saying the suspects were apprehended following intensified operations by the command and its tactical teams.
The CP also revealed that one Sanni Gbadamosi, who allegedly arranged the kidnapping of his cousin in Ajase-Ipo and demanded a ransom of N120,000, was tracked and arrested in Kano State through the command’s advanced digital intelligence system.
In another incident, the commissioner said a motorcycle mechanic identified as Muhammadu Jalo, from Bode Sadu, allegedly severed the head of his customer with a machete after a heated argument.
The suspect, according to him, is in custody and has confessed to the crime.
Ojo further disclosed that a 15-year-old boy, identified as Falade Ebenezer, had been arrested for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl in an uncompleted building.
He said the suspect’s mother reported the case to the police after the victim narrated her ordeal.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” Ojo added.
The commissioner explained that normalcy had gradually returned to Oke-Ode, Babanla, and other crisis-prone communities in the state following security measures put in place by the government and security agencies.
“Today, Friday, is a market day in Oke-Ode, and it was full. A whole brigade is on the ground, so people have started returning to their homes. Everyone is now vigilant.
“I learnt someone was arrested in the market today because people suspected his movements,” he said.
The police boss attributed the surge in kidnapping across the state to the activities of informants and the recruitment of young boys by kidnappers with monetary inducements.
“About kidnappers recruiting people, yes, definitely, they entice them. They have cheap money to give. That’s what they do. They promise, they give, they entice them.
“We discovered that most of the problems security agents have in Kwara are that there are too many informants for the kidnappers.
“But we are not relenting in our efforts; we will fight them to a standstill. I want to plead with everyone to be security conscious now,” he said.
Ojo lamented that the refusal of families of kidnapped victims to report incidents to the police had continued to hinder the command’s ability to track down the perpetrators using digital and technical tools.
“The problem is that when your relative is in the hands of the kidnappers, they will threaten that if you tell the police, they will kill the victim.
“So, because of that, many people will not give the police information. They prefer to secretly go and pay ransom without telling the police. That’s why we are encouraging people to speak out,” Ojo concluded.
The CP assured residents that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, remained committed to flushing out criminal elements and restoring lasting peace across the state.
