Gunmen Abduct Police Inspector, Two Others In Mosque In Ogun

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ogun State Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirmed the abduction of a Police Inspector, Kamardeen Bello, and two other worshippers by gunmen, who invaded a mosque at Soyoye, Rounder area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

However, Oyeyemi said he was not aware of any ransom paid.

He added that the police would not relent in dealing with kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising the state.

The police officer was said to have been kidnapped in the mosque yesterday at 8p.m. while praying.

It was learnt that the police inspector, whose wife just delivered of a baby four days before the incident, was the Chief Imam of the mosque, and was attached to one of the divisional police headquarters in Abeokuta.

“After he was abducted alongside two others, the kidnappers called to demand

N5 million ransom for the release of each of the victims. But with pleadings and negotiations, the money was reduced,” a source said.

The source, who did not want to be mentioned, added that: “The wife of Inspector Kamarudeen was contacted with the phone number of one of the kidnapped victims.”

It was learnt that the kidnappers did not know that Bello is a police officer, as he was not on uniform or with any identity when he was abducted in the mosque.

“Most of us were scared when they kidnapped him; we didn’t want them to know he is a policeman. If they knew, they might have killed him over fear that he would aid their arrest,” another source stated.

It was also learnt that the policeman and others kidnapped with him have been released before the week ran out, after the payment of ransom.

The source, however, refused to state the amount that was paid as ransom.