Plot to kidnap Nigeria oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, was, on Wednesday, scuttled by the men of the Nigeria Police Force.
The police in a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, a deputy commissioner of police revealed that the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) accomplished the task when it arrested a three man notorious kidnap gang.
The police explained that the arrest was achieved through coordinated intelligence gathering and deployment of technical investigative tools that spanned several weeks.
“He made damning revelations of their criminal exploits in the South West of the Country. Another member of the gang, 29 year old Adeyemi Kayode, a serving officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corps and a native of Ojoo in Ibadan, Oyo State serves as a Personal Assistant to the Commandant, NSCDC Oyo State Command.
“The suspect took undue advantage of his office to obtain the GSM number and location of their would be victim. He hatched the plan on how to kidnap the business magnate to make a demand of one billion naira ransom.
“The third suspect, Ayodele Temitayo, a native of Oyo in Ibadan, Oyo State who is the marksman and armourer of the gang, claimed to have been dismissed from 213 Battalion Maiduguri of Nigeria Army as a Private in 2015,” the police said.
The police said all the suspects made confessional statements revealing that they had successfully carried out several high profile kidnappings, adding that two AK47 rifles loaded with live ammunition were recovered from them.
“While efforts are currently being intensified to apprehend other members of the gang and extend investigation to their other criminal enterprise, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris wishes to restate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to clamp down on all criminal activities across the country and reassures law abiding citizens that criminal elements would be eventually apprehended and charged to court, “The police said.
The IGP urged Nigerians to avail the police with relevant information that will help in the crusade against crime; assuring that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.