Ogun State police arrest gang of kidnappers who collect yam and palm oil as part of their ransom

MEN of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a group of kidnappers who have been operating in a unique manner by collecting food items like yam and palm oil as ransom for the victims they abduct.

 

Over the last few years, kidnapping has been on the rise across Nigeria with hoodlums abducting victims and demanding huge amounts from their families before they are released. However, one group operating ion Ogun State have taken this further by recently demanding a carton of schnapps, 30 litres of palm oil and 10 tubers of yam in addition to a sum of N3.5m ($9,649) before releasing their victims.

 

This week, the Ogun State Police Command arrested four members of the gang after they abducted three persons in Ode-Omi in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State. Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, said they abducted their victims in a boundary community between Lagos and Ogun states on the eve of the last Eid-el Adha festival.

 

After the money and the food items were delivered, the victims, who included siblings Bamidele Adams and Jelili Adams, were freed by their captors. They were kidnapped alongside another individual who is believed to be the son of the chief imam of Ode-Omi, Abdulazeez Sanni.

 

Mr Oyeyemi, said:“Four of the kidnappers who abducted the three people, including the son of chief imam at Ode-Omi in Ijebu waterside on Salah day, have been arrested this morning by the police. “They were planning to relocate from the creeks but on Wednesday, we surrounded them and laid an ambush for them.

 

“We allowed them to enter their vehicle and as they attempted to leave, we rounded them up and arrested them with their guns and other ammunition. It is possible they are the ones who collected yam, oil and money among others.”

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