A self-acclaimed soldier, Sodiq Abiodun, fake police corporal, Oluwaseun Ogunjebe, two cattle rustlers, Muhammadu Usman and Alhaji Majo were among the 45 criminal suspects paraded Thursday by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu for committing various crimes in different parts of the state.
The parade held at the Eleyele State Command of the Police with ranking officers of the Command in attendance.
While the fake soldier, Abiodun, was arrested for impersonation and rape of a 17year old, the fake police Corporal who claimed to be servicing at the Force Headquarters Annex Lagos was arrested for failing to stop for police personnel routine stop and search patrol along Ibadan/Ife Road Toll Gate, Ibadan.
According to CP Olukolu while parading the suspects, the crimes committed by the suspects ranges from cultism, armed robbery, murder, rape, kidnapping, impersonation, receipt of stolen goods, and threat to life among others.
Addressing journalists, the CP recalled his assurances at the beginning of 2020 to residents of the state of the determined preparedness of the police to continue to carry out their constitutional responsibilities as enshrined in Section Four of the Police Acts and Regulations, including protection of life and property, preservation of law and order as well as carrying out due enforcement of all laws and regulations.
He said, “I wish to state that we have re-doubled our efforts and reviewed the security architecture as shown in the renewed activity of the Police Tactical teams – Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS), STS, Federal Highway Patrol, SAFER Highway, Skynet Squad, Puff Adder team, and so on.”
The list of the suspects also included a middle age woman, identified as Abimbola Oyebamiji, 46, who was rescued by the police from suspected kidnappers, after she was abducted at Isaguna village, Labode Road, Off Old Oyo Expressway while working on her poultry farm, though she lives at Alaafia community, Zone Five, Olorunda-Aba in Lagelu Local Government area of the state.
Olukolu said the suspected kidnappers dispossessed the woman of some amount of money, handsets and other valuables, while they demanded for a ransom of N60million.
According to the police boss in the state, the fake military officer, Abiodun, 29, in company of a syndicate member, Lekan Adesokan, 31, had a carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old girl, Alimot, at his hideout at Papa Eleye in Olomi area of Ibadan. He was said to have accosted the victim on February 19, this year, at about 8:30a.m, while wearing a full Nigerian Army camouflage uniform at a desolate spot at Modina, Orita Aperin, Ibadan.
“The hoodlum attacked the said Alimot Ismail, dispossessed her of her cell phone and abducted her to his hide-out at Papa Eleye, Olomi area, Ibadan, where his syndicate member was waiting for him. The victim was held hostage and later raped serially until the next day.
“As soon as the incident was reported at SARS office, a team of SARS operatives swung into action and the two hoodlums, who later identified themselves as Sodiq Abiodun and Lekan Adesokan, 31, were arrested in connection with the crime. A complete set of Nigerian Army camouflage uniform, which he normally wore to carry-out his criminal activities was recovered from him,” the CP said.
But, Sodiq, in an interview with journalists, denied raping Alimot, saying the two of them had sexual intercourse based on mutual consent.
However, he was incoherent when he was asked to explain where he got the complete Nigerian Army camouflage recovered from him by the police, saying he loved the Nigerian Army and he had applied to be enlisted, but his name could not make the list.
Twenty-six cows were also said to have been recovered from the suspected two cattle rustlers, Usman and Majo.
Olukolu said, “Information was received at the SARS office, Dugbe, Ibadan that some suspected notorious hoodlums, who specialised in cattle rustling, were sighted inside the thick forest at Akinmoorin town, via Oyo town with some dangerous weapons and a large herd of cattle, suspected to have been stolen from their owners.
“Sequel to the information, a team of SARS operatives attached to Oyo operational base was quickly dispatched to comb the said forest and in the process, two of the cattle rustlers – Muhammadu Usman and Alhaji Majo were arrested, while some members of the syndicate managed to escape.
“Meanwhile, 26 of the stolen cows were recovered from the hoodlums. Upon, interrogations, they confessed to the crime and explained in details how they attacked the owner of the cows and moved the cows to the forest with intent to later sell them to unsuspecting members of the public. Investigation is now in progress to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal gang.”
The CP also paraded eight suspected cultists with membership from ‘Eiye’ and ‘Aiye’ secret cult confraternities that clashed and in the process used dangerous weapons to attack each other and inflicted severe bodily injury which was said to have culminated in the death of four persons, who were rival cult members at Sango, Ijokodo, Challenge and Agbowo, all within Ibadan metropolis.
Olukolu however commended the people of the state who made the feat possible for the police by making information available, urging the people to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation, distraction, threat of violence from any group or individuals.
News
Man fakes his own Kidnapping, forces Brother to sell property for N12 million ransom
Man fakes his own Kidnapping, forces Brother to sell property for N12 million ransom
The Edo State Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping in Ekpoma, where a man allegedly faked his own abduction, forcing his brother to sell property to raise a ransom.
The incident was reported to the police on January 10, according to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem.
Investigations revealed that the supposed victim, identified as Idris Isiaka, a vulcanizer based on Balogun Street in the Emaudo community of Ekpoma, conspired with two accomplices to orchestrate the fake kidnap.
Police said Isiaka arranged for news of his “abduction” to be circulated on social media through a blogger and subsequently demanded a ransom of ₦12 million from his family.
Believing the story to be genuine, his brother reportedly sold a personal property in a desperate bid to secure his release.
However, detectives later uncovered the deception and arrested Isiaka along with his collaborators.
The police described the act as criminal and deceitful, warning members of the public against engaging in similar schemes.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to face prosecution once investigations are concluded.
The PPRO explained that the suspect “immediately engineered the circulation of his kidnap on social media through a blogger and demanded a ransom of Twelve Million Naira.
“His family in Kogi State was further contacted, threatening that he would be killed if the ransom was not paid”.
He said the brother, however, “sold his property and paid part of the ransom money which was shared with his accomplices, one Mohammed Saliu and Godwin Mohammed, both of whom are currently at large.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime. He will be arraigned in court after investigation”.
News
Kwankwaso sets tough conditions for possible APC defection
Kwankwaso sets tough conditions for possible APC defection
Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has indicated that any move toward the All Progressives Congress (APC) would depend on firm guarantees regarding political control in Kano and the protection of his supporters.
He made this known on Wednesday at his Miller Road home in Kano while receiving party leaders and loyalists from Rano and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas, as well as members of various Kwankwasiyya groups who used the visit to restate their allegiance to the NNPP.
“I didn’t say I won’t join APC, but we must first be clearly assured of the future of the Kano State government before we join the APC. What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?” Kwankwaso said.
Reflecting on previous political alliances, the former governor warned against repeating past mistakes, recalling how his political bloc once helped to build a government but was later marginalized.
“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party. Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time,” he added.
Kwankwaso emphasised that discussions about defection remain premature, insisting that no concrete commitments have been offered to safeguard the NNPP’s hold on power or its organizational framework in the state.
“Up till now, no one has given me a clear assurance that we will be allowed to retain our government and continue with our political structure. I need to know where I stand,” he said.
The gathering drew several senior government and party figures, including Deputy Governor Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Commissioner for Science and Technology Yusuf Kofar Mata, NNPP state chairman Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, and other prominent officials. All openly reaffirmed their loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Political watchers noted that the visible solidarity from top officials points to growing internal tensions and further underscores Kwankwaso’s strong grip on the party, especially amid rumors surrounding a possible defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC.
Analysts believe Kwankwaso’s measured position reflects a broader strategy to secure political structures and protect loyalists as preparations gradually shift toward the 2027 general elections.
News
Suspected notorious kidnapper linked to multiple kidnappings arrested by Police
Suspected notorious kidnapper linked to multiple kidnappings arrested by Police
The Police Command in Rivers on Wednesday, said it has arrested an alleged notorious kidnapper linked to multiple kidnapping incidents in the state.
The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt, stating that the suspect was arrested on Jan. 10.
She said that the suspect aged 30, was identified as the ringleader of a notorious kidnapping syndicate, that coordinated several abductions for ransom across the state.
According to her, the suspect who is responsible for multiple kidnappings along the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, Omagwa, was apprehended by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit.
“The suspect was planning to relocate his operational armoury and camp to Agbonchia/Oyigbo Road in Eleme Local Government Area before his arrest,” she said.
She said that the recovered items include an AK-47 rifle with breach number 2125 and two magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition.
The spokesperson said that during preliminary investigations, the suspect voluntarily confessed to being the ringleader of the kidnapping syndicate.
According to her, the suspect and exhibits are currently in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang. (NAN)
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