Oyo State: Police Nab Suspected Abductors Of Cleric’s Two-Year-Old Twins

 

The Oyo state police command on Monday paraded seven suspects as the kidnappers of the two-year-old twins of a popular Ibadan Islamic cleric, Taofek Azeez, better known as “Akewugbagold.”

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu, confirmed this at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.

According to him, the suspects include six men and a woman identified as Ridwan Taiwo, 30; Olumide Ajala, 36; Fatai Akanji, 39; Bashiru Mohammed, 33; Opeyemi Oyeleye, 25 (all males); Mutiu Rafiu, 35; and a female suspect, Modinat Rafiu, 29.

Olukolu said, “Following the consistent and concerted efforts put in place by the Command’s Special Anti-robbery Squad, (SARS), Anti-kidnapping Squad (AKS) and other Police Tactical teams and the unflinching supports of the good people of Oyo State through credible information supplied to the Police, all suspect connected to the case of the kidnapping of the 2-year old twins of Alhaji Taofeek Azeez “Akewugbagold” on the 25th April 2020, have been arrested and substantial parts of the ransom collected with the gun used for the operation, and the two operational vehicles, with one motorcycle, were recovered from suspects,”

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Narrating what happened, Mr Olukolu said, “The notorious criminals attacked his wife and subsequently abducted his two-year-old twins to an unknown destination. The criminal assailants later demanded a ransom of fifty million Naira before the two abducted babies would be released life,” the police boss said.

“As soon as the incident was reported at Ojoo Police Station and later transferred to AKS Eleyele/SARS office Dugbe, Ibadan, a team of AKS/SARS operatives swung into action while concerted efforts were intensified to rescue the abducted babies and arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

“The abducted babies were released unhurt eight days later after their father had parted with an alleged sum of four million nairas only as ransom to the hoodlums,” 

“Consequent upon this, the investigating team embarked on a painstaking detailed discreet investigation that traversed several states, including Adamawa and Sokoto and in the process, the following members of the notorious armed robbery cum kidnapping syndicate who later identified themselves as Rildwan Taiwo ‘m’, Rafiu Mutiu ‘m’, Olumide Ajala ‘m’, Fatai Akanji ‘m’, Bashiru Mohammed ‘m’, Opeyemi Oyeleye ‘m’ and one Rafiu Modinat ‘f’, a female member of the gang who was detailed to take care of the babies while in captivity, were all arrested in their respective hideouts in connection with the crime.’

“Exhibits recovered are: one locally made cut to size single barrel gun, eight live cartridges, one Nissan MICRA Car with REG NO. JJJ 703 BJ which was used for the criminal activity and another Nissan MICRA Car with REG NO NRK 864 YR partly paid for from part of the ransom, the sum of Two million, eight hundred and sixty-three thousand nairas only, (N2, 863,000.00) being part of the ransom, an unregistered TVS Motorcycle which was equally used to monitor, execute the operation and buy food for the abducted babies were all recovered from the hoodlums.” 

while speaking with the suspect on reason why they committed the crime, one of the suspects identified as Mohammed Bashir, confirmed that he and his friends conspired to kidnap the twins.

He said,  “I don’t have much to say than for God to forgives us for what we have done. I’ve been working with him as one of his media team for the past two years. It is not that he is not paying us, but all I can say that it was the work of devil.”

with the female suspect identified as Ms Modinat, asserted that she was given the sum of N20,000 to keep the children. 

“I was given N20,000 for keeping custody of the children. I collected the money and used it to buy some goods I am selling. I asked them the purpose of the money but they told me they just gave me the money,” 

Commenting on the development, the father of the abducted twins, Mr Azeez said, “I am taking proper care of my staff but it is just that someone who is not contented can never be satisfied in this life.”

“They are casual workers introduced to me by Oriyomi Hamsat when I need social media handlers. They were just casual workers to me because I employed them based on some agreement which I fulfilled.”

He commended on the effort of the police in the search saying,  “Nigeria police is not as bad as what people used to think they are.”