THE abductors of Dr Arikeade Oni-Salawu, wife of the youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Isiaka Ajibola Areokuta, were among the suspects paraded by the police at the state police command headquarters, Eleyele, on Monday.
The medical doctor was kidnapped in the presence of her husband at the Aromolaran area of Ibadan at about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 23, as she was about to drive into her compound after the close of work.
During a press briefing, the state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, said that the arrest of the suspects followed the command’s redesigned operational and tactical architecture, as well as the hard work, determination, relentless service and renewed sense of purpose of operatives of the command.
According to the police boss, on July 3, at about 8:30 p.m., credible information was received at the Monitoring Unit office, led by the Commander, CSP Olusola Aremu, that members of the kidnapping gang that masterminded Mrs Oni-Salawu’s abduction and other related cases in Ibadan were sighted in their hideout.
“Following the information, a team of operatives attached to the unit swung into action, and in the process, the leader of the gang and three other members were arrested,” she said.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that when the suspects were interrogated, they confessed to the kidnapping of Mrs Oni-Salawu and that they collected N3.5 million, as ransom and the cash and jewellery she was dispossessed of before she was released eight days after.
The victim had explained to the police that aside from the ransom, the abductors also dispossessed her of N120,000, gold chain, gold wedding ring, as well as a silver wristwatch, all worth N500,000.
“Three locally-made barrel guns, 15 live cartridges and a Toyota Camry car used to move the victim were recovered from the suspects,” Onadeko stated further.
Police nab abductors of wife of Oyo APC youth leader, other suspects
