A member of a kidnap syndicate who reportedly kidnapped a magistrate in Kwara state early in the year, Abubakar Shehu, has been apprehended by the men of the state Police command in another kidnap incident.
Magistrate Bamigboye is the wife of the former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye.
Speaking with journalists while parading some suspected criminals including suspected ritualists, kidnappers and cultists in Ilorin on Thursday, the state Police commissioner, Paul Odama, said that Dogo was part of a five-man kidnap gang that was arrested on March 3, 2023, at about 2100hours by the anti-kidnapping teams attached to Eyenkorin Axis of Ilorin in collaboration with local vigilante group.
The Police boss said that the command’s anti-kidnapping teams, in possession of intelligence, that a group of persons suspected to be kidnappers were sighted along Eyenkorin forest, stormed the forest.
He said that the operation led to the arrest of the following suspects: Abubakar Shehu ‘male’ aka Dogo, Mohammed Aliyu, 30 years; Yunusa Ahmadu, 28 years; Malami Usman, 27 years; Dauda Amosa, 28years.
“Investigation into the case revealed that Abubakar Shehu aka Dogo and his gang were the kidnappers behind the kidnap of one Alhaji Madaki Shaibu at Ayegun Fulani Camp sometime in January 2023, where the son of the Alhaji was killed.
“It was also revealed that Dogo was part of the gang that kidnapped Magistrate Oladapo jumoke Bamigboye also in January 2023.
“The suspects were also into cow rustling, the vehicle used in the cow stealing has been recovered also. Suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
Also, another five-man kidnap gang was paraded on allegations of criminal conspiracy, attempt to kidnap and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The suspects include one Aliyu Abubakar, 30 years; Aliyu Bingi, 30 years; Shehu Sanni, 35 years; Abdulahi Saidu, 28 years; Bayo Dudu, 30 years.
“A team of Policemen attached to Banni Division, in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara state in conjunction with local vigilantes acting on intelligence stormed Banni forest in search of suspected kidnappers already taking abode in the forest in preparation for a kidnap expenditure.
“The search operation led to the arrest of three of the above-named suspects who confessed during interrogation to be kidnappers, two of their members by name Bayo Dudu and Aliyu Abubakar who stays in Niger state. Their operational weapon an AK-47 riffle is in possession of one of the suspects now at large. An effort is still in progress to arrest the remaining members of the kidnap gang.”
The command also paraded suspects involved in criminal conspiracy, membership of secret cults, ritual and stealing.
The Police boss said that exhibits found with the suspects include “Local Pot with the concoction, natural sponges, connotation satires and smartphones.”
“On 11/04/2023 the above-mentioned suspects were arrested based on actionable intelligence to the effect that, some suspected ritualists were seen gathered at an isolated hotel in Malete Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. The anti-cultism operatives were dispatched to the Area by the Commissioner of Police CP Paul Odama Psc, where the suspects here were rounded up with all the items recovered from them. They all confessed to being internet fraudsters but the Command is investigating them for ritual activities. They would be charged in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
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