The Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers six days after collecting the sum of N10 million ransom to secure the release of their victims.
Recall that the suspects collected the sum to release one Sunday Ajibola and his mother-in-law.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Yamu gave the names of the suspects as Adamu Usman, Iliyasu Abubakar, and Safiyanu Mohammed.
He said during preliminary investigation, one of the sim cards recovered from the suspects was discovered to belong to one Ajibola Sunday of Igbirra camp in Auchi.
He said that Ajibola Sunday was contacted and invited to the station, where he identified the suspect as being part of the eight-man-gang that kidnapped him and his mother-in-law.
Yamu added that the victim said they were kidnapped on March 11, 2025 and that their families paid the sum of N10 million to secure their release.
He said the suspects were arrested by operatives of the Auchi Division, in collaboration with the Vigilante, on a routine stop and search at UBA junction, Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, on March 16, 2025.
The Command’s image maker said Adamu Usman of Hausa quarters was arrested after the operatives chased after young men who took to their heels on sighting the Police, while his accomplice escaped.
Yamu said the other two suspects were later arrested during preliminary investigation.
He said during the spot search, a cash sum of N1,345, 100, believed to be proceeds of kidnapping, five micro sim cards, one machete, one dagger, two phones, and a pack of cigarettes were recovered from the suspects.
