Oyo state police command apprehends kidnappers of Ibadan 2 year old twins

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested kidnappers of the twins of the popular Ibadan Islamic cleric, Alhaji Taofek Azeez, otherwise known as “Akewugbagold”

Penpushing reports that the Commissioner of PolicE Shina Olukolu while parading the suspects on Monday at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan said that, said the arrest was, made possible following consistent and concerted efforts put in place by the command

“Following the consistent and concerted efforts put in place by the Command’s Special Anti-robbery Squad, (SARS), Anti-kidnapping Squad (AKS) and other Police Tactical teams  and the unflinching supports of the good people of Oyo State through credible information supplied to the Police, all suspect connected to the case of the kidnapping of the 2-year old twins of Alhaji Taofeek Azeez “Akewugbagold” on the 25th April, 2020, have been arrested and substantial parts of the ransom collected with the gun used for the operation, and the two operational vehicles, with one motorcycle were recovered from suspects’, he said.

The police boss recalled that a report was received at Ojoo Divisional Police Headquarters, Ojoo Ibadan  on April 25,that some notorious members of an armed robbery/ kidnapping syndicate who have been terrorizing members of the public within Ibadan metropolis and other parts of Oyo State  invaded the residence of  the Islamic cleric.

Penpushing further reports that, the commissioner said the gang stormed the residence of  Alhaji Taofeek Azeez “Akewugbagold” at Alphonso road, behind PHCN office, Sasa Area, Ojoo, Ibadan with guns, cutlasses and some other dangerous weapons.

“The notorious criminals attacked his wife and subsequently abducted his 2-year old twins to an unknown destination. The criminal assailants later demanded for ransom of Fifty Million Naira (N50, 000, 000. 00) before the two abducted babies would be release life’,Olukolu said.

“As soon as the incident was reported at Ojoo Police Station and later transferred to AKS Eleyele/SARS office Dugbe, Ibadan, a team of AKS/SARS operatives swung into action while concerted efforts were intensified to rescue the abducted babies and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime”, he said

“The abducted babies were released unhurt eight ‘8’ days later after their father had parted with an alleged sum of four million naira only (N4M) as ransom to the hoodlums”, the commissioner explained

“Consequent upon this, the investigating team  embarked on a painstaking detailed discreet investigation that traversed several States including Adamawa and Sokoto and in the process, the following members of the notorious armed robbery cum kidnapping syndicate who later identified themselves as Rildwan Taiwo ‘m’, Rafiu Mutiu ‘m’, Olumide Ajala ‘m’, Fatai Akanji ‘m’, Bashiru Mohammed ‘m’, Opeyemi Oyeleye ‘m’ and one Rafiu Modinat ‘f’, a female member of the gang who was detailed to take care of the babies while in captivity were all arrested in their respective hideouts in connection with the crime’.

‘Exhibits recovered are: one locally made cut to size single barrel gun, eight live cartridges, one Nissan MICRA Car with REG NO. JJJ 703 BJ which was used for the criminal activity and another Nissan MICRA Car with REG NO NRK 864 YR partly paid for from part of the ransom, the sum of Two million, eight hundred and sixty-three thousand naira only, (N2, 863,000.00) being part of the ransom, an unregistered TVS Motorcycle which was equally used to monitor, execute the operation and buy food for the abducted babies were all recovered from the hoodlums.

Penpushing also reports that Olukolu noted that the suspects have confessed to the crime and explained in details their individual roles in the criminal activity, adding that investigation is now in progress.

The commissioner however solicited support from the members of the public by constantly assisting the police with credible, timely and useful information that will enable them to combat crimes and criminalities in the state.

Penpushing reports that, the father of the abducted twins, Alhaji Taofek Azeez, otherwise known as “Akewugbagold”  has denied the report that he was not taking care of his domestic staff which led to the abductions of his children, stressing that,”am taking a proper care of my staff but it just that someone who is not contented can never be satisfy in this life’.

The cleric stated categorically that the two masterminder of the kidnapping (Opeyemi and Basir) were formerly ex workers of Oriyomi Hamsat, and have made the same allegations against their ex boss.

“They are casual workers introduced to me by Oriyomi Hamsat when I need a social media handlers, they are just casual workers to me, because they are not fully employed, I employed them based on some agreement which I fulfilled”, he explained, and also used the opportunity to thanked the commissioner of police in the state, saying that Nigeria police is not as bad as what people used to think they are.

Penpushing also reports that one of the suspects, Mohammed Bashir while speaking with journalists said that “me and my friend was the one that masterminded the kidnapping of the twins, I don’t have much to say than for God to forgives us for what we have done. I’ve been working with him as one of his media team for the past two years ago, is not that he is not paying us, but all I can say that it was a work of devil.”

The  female suspect, Rafiu Modinat, who kept the abducted twins  said, “I was giving N20,000 for keeping custody the children, I collected the money and used it to buy some goods am selling, I asked them the purpose of the money but they told me they just gave me the money.”