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Police. Photo Credit: Elliot Ovadje
The Ogun State Police Command on Friday announced the arrest of a seven-man gang accused of terrorising travellers along the Sagamu/Ijebu-Ode expressway.
The gang is believed to be responsible for multiple kidnappings between May and September 2024.
The suspects paraded include Azeez Abolaji Alese, identified as the gang leader, along with Onokrese Jacob, Henry Gaga Emmanuel, Joseph Udomah, Abiola Oduyemi, Abbey Emmanuel, and Jimoh Kareem.
Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alamutu disclosed at a press briefing in Abeokuta that the anti-kidnapping unit’s investigation led to the arrest of the gang after they received a tip on October 3, which resulted in the arrest of Oduyemi in Egbeda, Ibadan, and the subsequent capture of other gang members.
Alamutu stated, “On 16th May 2024, at about 20:28 hrs, this vicious syndicate led by Azeez Abolaji Alese attacked a woman named Busari Abiola while she was trying to drive into her premises in Sagamu. She was kidnapped and driven away in her unregistered 2009 ash-colored Corolla. The kidnappers later released her, taking only the vehicle.”
The gang was also accused of abducting Adebayo Olabisi on May 17 at Irewon, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, whisking her away in her white Highlander Jeep with registration number BDG 125 HZ. On June 2, they reportedly kidnapped Omosehin Tanwa at Itamogiri, Ijebu Mushin, followed by the abduction of Segun Adebanjo on July 14.
The final known kidnapping occurred on September 5 when the gang reportedly kidnapped Uruakpa Elizabeth, a nurse at Babcock University, at gunpoint upon her return from work. Alamutu said that during the investigation, Oduyemi was found with items belonging to Elizabeth, including a branded key holder from Babcock University and a shuttle bag.
According to the CP, Alese has orchestrated numerous kidnapping incidents, extorting ransoms before releasing his victims.
Alese, a repeat offender, was first arrested in January 2016 for the kidnapping of an expatriate along the Sagamu-Ogijo road and currently has a case pending in court. He was also arrested by Oyo State Police in August 2022 for kidnapping in Ibadan, with an ongoing case in the High Court there. Despite being released on bail in April 2024, he reportedly re-formed a gang and resumed his criminal activities, beginning with an abduction on May 16.
Further investigation also revealed the specific roles played by other gang members. Udoma, one of the suspects, allegedly provided information on potential victims and was previously involved in the kidnapping of a journalist in Ijebu-Ode in 2023, sustaining bullet injuries during a police rescue attempt.
Emmanuel was allegedly caught with a Browning pistol reportedly used in several of the gang’s kidnappings and robberies. Rasheed Salami and Jimoh Kareem, identified as the group’s armourers, were reportedly responsible for obtaining pistols and ammunition and arranging sales of stolen vehicles to Niger Republic. Ogunbanwo, another gang member, was in charge of providing food for kidnapped victims held in captivity in Ososa Forest.
Exhibits recovered during the operation included a Browning pistol, a Helmet Jeep with registration number AYT 88 MS, a Toyota Camry with registration number KTU 406 JL, school bags, lunch bags, and a Babcock University key holder.
