Police arrest 20 suspects for cultism, robbery, kidnapping, others in Kwara

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Kwara State Police Command said 20 suspects have been arrested for crimes ranging from robbery, kidnapping, cultism, ritual activities and unlawful possession of fire arms

The state Police Commissioner, Paul Odama paraded the suspects at the force headquarters in Ilorin on Thursday.

The police boss said a team of policemen attached to Banni Division in conjunction with local vigilantes acting on intelligence stormed Banni forest in search of suspected kidnappers already taking abode in the forest in preparation for a kidnap expenditure.

The search operation led to the arrest of Aliyu Abubakar (30), Aliyu Bingi (30), Shehu Sanni (35), Abdulahi Saidu (28) and Bayo Dudu (30), who confessed during interrogation to be kidnappers.

Two of their members, Bayo Dudu and Aliyu Abubakar live in Niger State.

Their operational weapon, an AK-47 riffle is in possession of one of the suspects now at large. Effort is still in progress to arrest the remaining members of the kidnap gang, Odama added.  

He said in a similar operation on March 5, at about 2100hrs, anti-kidnapping teams attached to Eyenkorin Axis of Ilorin in collaboration with local vigilante group in possession of a virile intelligence that some group of persons suspected to be kidnappers were sighted along Eyenkorin forest, stormed the forest, adding that the operation succeeded with the arrest of Abubakar Shehu, Mohammed Aliyu, Yunusa Ahmadu, Malami Usman and

Dauda Amosa.

According to the commissioner, investigation into the case revealed that, Abubakar Shehu aka Dogo and his gang were behind the kidnapping of one Alhaji Madaki Shaibu at Ayegun Fulani Camp sometimes in January 2023, where the son of the Alhaji was killed.

It was also revealed that Dogo was part of the gang that kidnapped Magistrate Bamigboye also in January 2023.

The suspects were also into cow rustling, the vehicle used in the cow stealing has been recovered also.

Suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. 

Also Habeeb Ayomide, Oni Obasanjo, Mohammed Abdulkareem, Ibrahim Apete, Ajao Musa, Ismail Ayomide, Adebayo Abdulateef and Yusuf Najeem were arrested for belonging to secret cult/gang of thieves and suspected ritualists.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects are local pot with concoction, nature sponges, connation satires and Smart Phone.

“On the 11/04/2023 the above mentioned suspects were arrested based on actionable intelligence to the effect that, some suspected ritualists were seen gathered at an isolated hotel in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“The anti-cultism operatives were dispatched to the area by the Commissioner of Police, where the suspects here were rounded up with all the items recovered from them. They all confessed to be internet fraudsters but the Command is investigating them for ritual activities. They would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

Also, Oluwadare Ayodeji Michael, John Adebisi Oyeyi and Abednego Sanni were arrested with Lack IPhone XR and N250,000.

“On 22/03/2023 the above mentioned case was based on distress call received from concerned citizen about some hoodlums suspected to be members of secret cult.

“The suspects invaded Doam suite hostel, Tanke Area, Ilorin, attacking occupants and robbing them of their valuable items. Detectives from anti-cultism section were drafted to the hostel, where the suspects were arrested. “Investigation conducted revealed that, the suspects forcefully transferred about N1million from the various accounts of the occupants to their bank accounts, while one Isah Abdulkareem was rescued from where he was kept after being kidnapped and N150,000 demanded as ransom.

“Investigation equally revealed that the suspects belong to supreme Viking confraternity. Investigation is on-going with a view to arresting other fleeing members of the cult group.

“In a continuous bid to rid the society of activities of cultists, anti-cult team attached to Malete in response to distress call about the mayhem being unleashed by some cultist at Blue chalet hostel, Malete, stormed the scene and arrested one Alabidun Lateef and Idris Abdulhamid with two cutlasses and three knives, while others took to their heels. “Investigation revealed that the suspects are members of Eiye and Alora Confraternities. They were on a mission to attack one another after destroying the room of one Kaosara Jimoh.

“Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the cult groups. All the suspects would be charge to court after investigation,” he said.