The Oyo State Police Command says some aides of popular Islamic cleric, Alhaj Taofeek Azeez, aka Akewugbagold had a hand in the abduction of his two-year-old twins last month.
The command made this known while parading seven suspects in connection with the incident on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital.
A couple and two close associates of Akewugbagold were among those paraded.
The two aides arrested were Bashiru Mohammed, 33; and Opeyemi Oyeleye, 25.
Other suspects nabbed by the command include Rildwan Taiwo, 30; Olumide Ajala, 36; Fatai Akanji, 39; Mutiu Rafiu, 35; and his wife Modinat, 29.
The Herald reported that the twins, Walfiq and Walfiqo, were whisked away from their parents’ home in the Ojoo area of Ibadan at 8:30 pm on Saturday, April 25.
However, they regained their freedom on Sunday, May 3, after eight days in captivity.
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The Commissioner of Police in the state, Shina Olukolu, while parading the suspects, disclosed that they were nabbed following coordinated investigations in Oyo, Adamawa and Sokoto states.
Olukolu said, “Sequel to the last press briefing held on May 13, during which the command showcased the arrest of some notorious kidnappers, armed robbers/criminal receivers, impersonators and murderers/cultists terrorising the state, concerted efforts by the command with the support of the people of Oyo State continue to yield good results.
“In the sensational case of the kidnapping of the two-year-old twins of Alhaji Taofeek Azeez Akewugbagold on April 25, all the suspects have been arrested with substantial part of the ransom collected; the gun used for the operation, the two operational vehicles and one motorcycle recovered from them .
“On April 25 around 8 pm, a report was received at the Ojoo Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibadan , that some armed robbers cum members of a kidnapping syndicate terrorising the public within the Ibadan metropolis and other parts of Oyo State invaded the residence of Alhaji Taofeek Azeez Akewugbagold on Alphonso Road , behind the PHCN office , Sasa Area, Ojoo , Ibadan , with guns, cutlasses and other weapons.
“The notorious criminals attacked Akewugbagold ’ s wife and subsequently abducted his two-year-old twins to an unknown destination . The assailants later demanded ransom of N 50 m before the two children would be released .
“Concerted efforts were made to rescue the abducted babies and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime. The abducted babies were released unhurt eight days after with their father parting with the sum of N4m.
“One locally-made cut-to-size single -barrelled gun, eight live cartridges , one Nissan Micra car with number plate JJJ 703 BJ , another Nissan Micra car with number plate NRK 864 YR , the sum of N 2, 863 ,000 , being part of the ransom and an unregistered TVS motorcycle were recovered from the hoodlums.”
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