Barely 24 hours after two members of a kidnap syndicate were gunned down in Itori, Ewekoro Local Council Area of Ogun State; another member of the syndicate, was yesterday killed by the state police command at Ilala forest, in Imala area of Abeokuta North council area.
Following another bloody encounter, one of the suspects was also arrested through the gallant exploit of the police officers.The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said the gun battle between the police and the kidnappers was as a result of information received by the police at Imala divisional headquarters that six armed kidnappers were sighted in the forest.
“Upon the information, the DPO Imala Division, CSP Bernard Ediagbonya quickly mobilised his men, the hunters, vigilante men, so safe corps, as well as Fulani youths and stormed the forest.
He said: “On getting to the scene, the hoodlums, who sighted the team from afar opened fire on them, and the team engaged them in a gun duel. In the process, one of the hoodlums was gunned down, while another one who identified himself as Usman Maidama was arrested. Other members of the gang escaped into the bush with gunshot injuries.”
Oyeyemi said one single barrel gun; one facemask and two pairs of sandals were recovered from the suspect. He said the command’s onslaught operations against bandits have been yielding positive results, as four AK 47 rifles have been recovered from the hoodlums within the last three weeks, while some of the bandits have met their waterloo during exchange of fire within the same period.
Oyeyemi said the commissioner of police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, who expressed satisfaction with the consistent fight against criminals by men of the command has ordered the transfer of the case to the anti kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.
“While assuring the good people of the state that the clampdown on hoodlums in every part of the state will be a continuous exercise. He also directed that escaped members of the gang be hunted, and brought to justice as soon as possible.”