Two suspected kidnappers have been arrested and two of their victims rescued by operatives of Ogun State Police Command.
The suspects – Mohammed Bello and Mohammed Bashiru – were arrested on Tuesday following a distress call received from Bisodun Village at about 8 p.m.
The caller reported that kidnappers had invaded the community and that a couple, Mr and Mrs Ojo, had been kidnapped.
Upon the distress call, according to the spokesman of the police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, the Divisional Police Officer, Owode Egba, CSP Olasunkanmi Popoola, went to the scene where he met the local hunters who had already mobilized in large number to confront the kidnappers.
The policemen, together with the hunters stormed the forest in search of the kidnappers and the victims.
Oyeyemi said while combing the bush, the kidnappers suddenly opened fire on the rescue team and the security men responded.
“One of the hunters was unfortunately hit by the bullet,” he said.
According to him, having been overwhelmed by the firing from the police and the hunters, the kidnappers abandoned the victims and ran for cover.
The abducted victims and the injured hunter were quickly rushed to the hospital but the hunter, Adebare Ramoni, gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.
At about 10 a.m., there was an information that the suspects were sighted somewhere in the bush, consequent upon which the Area Commander, Owode Egba, ACP Adeniyi Adedeji, led a team of policemen to the scene and together with the hunters stormed the bush and successfully apprehended two amongst the kidnappers.
The two arrested suspects have been identified by the victims as members of the gang who kidnapped them.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Frank Mba, who was said to have commended the local hunters for their support had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti-kidnapping unit of the state’s Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.
The CP also sympathised with the family of the deceased hunters and prayed that God would give them the fortitude to bear the unfortunate death.
