Police, Suspected Kidnappers in Gun Duel, 4 Arrested in Osun

Four suspected kidnapers have been arrested by policemen in Osun State after a gun battle.

Three of the five-man suspected kidnapping gang sustained gunshot injury while one escaped with gunshot wound.

Parading the suspects before newsmen on Monday, at the Police Headquarters, Osogbo, the Police Public Relations Officers, Osun Command, Mrs Folashade Odoro said four of the five suspects were eventually arrested after the gun duel.

Odoro said the suspects were engaged by the police on their way to carry out another kidnapping operation.

According to Odoro, the police had been on the trail of the suspects who have been allegedly terrorizing the state.

The police spokesperson said that the reports with the command had indicated the kidnappers had been terrorizing the people of the state while many victims had lost their lives through their heinous act of kidnapping.

Odoro said the suspects had succeeded in myriads of kidnapping acts before they were apprehended, adding that the gang at their last operation kidnapped a seven-year-old girl and demanded a sum of N250,000 from her parents.

She said: “One seven years old female child and her mother were kidnapped at Dada Estate Osogbo when the victims 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 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.

“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 sustainability of bullets by three of the kidnappers.

“As I am talking to you now, three of the suspects who sustained injury are currently receiving treatment at hospital.”

Fielding questions from journalists, one of the suspect, Akin Isa (40) who admitted to have committed the crime, disclaimed being arrested at gun battle, nothing that he was arrested at his girlfriend’s place.

Isa said after he has been arrested, the police ordered him to take them down to where other gang members were.

He further explained that immediately the police got to the place, they started shooting at the gang members, alleging that the development had 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 of the ransom.

When he was asked on the reason for resolving to kidnapping, Isa simply said he was forced to it due to personal misfortune.