Ondo State police command has arrested a 10-man armed robbery gang, which included two personnel of the Nigeria Army (names withheld), while a kidnapped victim was rescued by the police.
The Commissioner for Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, while parading six members of the gang alongside a kidnap kingpin in the state, said the command received information from a reliable source about their activities.
The suspects were arrested by men of the command along Ogudu camp via Emure Ile in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
Adeyanju explained that the armed robbery gang were blocking the Owo-Akure expressway along Ogudu camp via-Emure-Ile, in order to rob or kidnap motorists.
He said upon receipt of the information, his men swung into action, revealing that one Jacob Amos was arrested for interrogation.
The commissioner added that it was Amos that led police to where the gang resided at Shagari Village in Akure, where the other five suspects were arrested.
“Three of the robbers ran away. Two of the robbers name withheld, claimed to be private officers in the Nigerian Army. We are however still investigating their claims.
“Each of them confessed that they were armed robbers and explained the part they wanted to take during the robbery. One of them was dropped at the highway checkpoint as a spy.”
Other suspects arrested included Adetayo Ogunbadejo, Moruf Oguntade, Moses Aleka, Iliyasu Suleiman and Jayeoba Ojo.
Items recovered from the suspects were one Hummer Jeep, one AK47 riffle, a knife, one Berretal Pistol, one cutlass army uniforms and different charms.
One of the suspects, Suleiman lamented that he joined the gang to raise money for his mother’s burial. He said he was compelled to join the gang by one of his friends who told him that they were into internet fraud popularly known as yahoo yahoo.
“I am a laptop repairer. He told me to come that he will teach me how to make a fast money with yahoo. When I came, he told me it was a yahoo. I asked him where is the laptop and he said I should not worry.
Meanwhile, a kidnap victim, Moyo Osoori, who was abducted in an hotel last Saturday at Supare Akoko in Akoko South West LGA of the state, was rescued on Tuesday by the police.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph, had informed earlier that the police operatives swung into action immediately the case was reported and the victim regained his freedom after about two days in the captive of his abductors.
The gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Saturday evening kidnapped two people in Akoko after a funeral ceremony in an hotel.
