Ibadan Court Remands 15 Suspected Fulani Kidnappers

Justice P.O. Adetuyibi of Iyanganku Chief Magistrate Court, Ibadan has ordered that the 15 suspected kidnappers who were alleged to be responsible for the kidnap and murder of traveller Oluwatoyin Ariwajoye at Onigaari village, along the Ibadan-Lagos expressway be remanded at Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo.

The suspects are; Bashiru Abubakar, Babuga Umaru, Umaru Sheu Tambaya, Shagari Mohammed, Ibrahim Abubakar, Adamu Abdullahi, Mohammed Umaru and Abdlai Abubakar.

Others are Aliyu Umar, Haruna Isah, Sanda Bawu, Umaru Faruq Mohammed, Aliyu Abubakar, Abubakar Siddiku and Isiaku Mohammed.

The suspects were arraigned on a 4-count charge of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and unlawful use of firearms.

The Oyo Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko had on Thursday, February 3, 2022, arrested and paraded 15 suspected kidnappers that have been unleashing a reign of terror on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road, at Eleyele, Ibadan.

The prosecutor, Inspector Folake Ewe alleged that the suspects and others at large attacked travellers at about 5:30 pm on January 8 this year at Onigari village along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

She said; “the suspects and others now at large on the said date, place and time in the aforementioned Magistrate district did unlawfully cause the death of one Oluwatoyin Anwajoye by firing a gunshot at his car that hits him on his forehead and thereby committed an offence contrary to 316 and punishable under section 319 of criminal code cap 38 Volume II of Oyo state, Nigeria.

Counsel to the defendants, Olajide Adewole pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy and ensure the suspects are remanded at Agodi correctional facility in Ibadan but the judge declined.

She argued that there was no space in Agodi but Abolongo.

Justice Adetuyibi, therefore, ruled that they be kept at Abolongo and adjourned the case till March 30 for further hearing.