The Osun State Police Command has apprehended three suspects, Barri Galadima, Muhammadu Abdullahi, and Hussain Abdullah, for attempting to kidnap Alhaji Idris Aliu.
According to the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kehinde Longe, who confirmed the arrest on Sunday, April 9, 2023, the suspects were apprehended in their hideout in a remote village in Oyo State after a tip-off by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
The kidnappers were said to have previously kidnapped Aliu’s brother and shot him after collecting an N4 million ransom from the family. They attempted to do the same to Aliu before being caught by nemesis.
Before being apprehended, the suspects and other accomplices, numbering around 30, were said to have engaged Anti-Kidnapping Squad operatives in a fierce gun duel, injuring one police officer.
The remaining kidnappers were able to retreat and flee. The injured officer is said to be receiving medical treatment and is in stable condition.
Speaking in Osogbo, the CP promised that the suspects would face the full force of the law and that their evading colleagues would be apprehended and prosecuted as soon as possible.
In an interview, two of the suspects, Galadima and Abdullahi, admitted to the crime, while the third suspect, Hussaini, a Seriki Fulani from Oyo state’s Afijio Local Government Area, denied any involvement.
“Honestly, it is a kidnapping offense, this man Barrister Galadima met Sarki, who gave him a number of one man who would be a good target to kidnap.” “I didn’t know the man at the time, and I still don’t know him now, but it was Sarki who gave Barri the number,” Abdullahi explained.
Galadima also stated, “We planned a kidnapping operation and called one man; we kept calling him, demanding a ransom, but he didn’t give us.” We then threatened to kidnap him unless he paid us a ransom. But the government apprehended us before we could kidnap him.”
