Four members of a notorious kidnap gang that has, for a while, operated in Osun state have been nabbed by the state Police Command on Tuesday.
The kidnap gang who were paraded at the police headquarters, Osogbo were said to have been arrested after the police engaged in a gunfire with them.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Folasade Odoro disclosed that after the police engaged in a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers, three of them were seriously injured and one arrested while the fifth suspect escaped with gunshot wound.
Odoro said the police has been on the trail of the five-armed gang of kidnappers overtime before they ran out of luck on Tuesday.
She said that the injured suspects are being treated at the intensive care unit of an undisclosed Hospital in the state capital.
The PPRO explained that the reports with the command indicated that the kidnappers had been terrorising the people of the state while many victims lost their lives through their heinous act of kidnapping.
Odoro said the suspects succeeded in myriads of kidnapping acts before they were apprehended, adding that the gang in their last operation kidnapped a seven-year old girl and demanded a sum of N250,000 from her parents.
“One seven years old female child and her mother were kidnapped at Dada Estate, Osogbo while victims were packed to buy some items but later the mother was dropped along the express way by the kidnappers.
“The suspects requested for N250,000 as a ransom from the parents of the victim and after the money was paid, the little child was freed.
“Meanwhile, going by our records, we did not stop our investigation neither rest on our oars as the pursuit of our investigation led to their arrest this morning (Tuesday).
“In the course of our investigation, it was further revealed that the suspects have also kidnapped a seven-year old boy simply known as Samuel from Ogbomoso, a development that led to the collection of N3million from the parents of the victim.
“But unfortunately for them this morning, our men stumbled on them and got them arrested while they were going for another operation.
“Though, there was an exchange of gunfire between them and our men, the development that led to the injuries sustained by three of the kidnappers.
“As I am talking to you now, three of the suspects who sustained injury are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
Fielding questions from journalists, one of the suspects, Akin Isa (40) who admitted to have committed the crime, disclaimed being arrested at gun battle, he revealed that he was arrested at his girl’s place.
Isa said after he has been arrested, the police ordered him to take them down to where his co-gangs are.
He further explained that immediately the police got to the place, they started to shoot at his accomplices, alleging that the development led to the murder of his brother.
Isa who admitted that they kidnapped a seven-year old girl at Dada Estate, Osogbo and demanded for a sum of N250,000 ransom from the parents, however, confessed that N20,000 was given to him as his own share after the ransom was shared.
When he was asked on the reason for deciding to engage in kidnapping, Isa simply said he was forced to it due to personal misfortune.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
