In a series of terrifying raids this week, armed bandits swept through the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, seizing 10 residents.
The violence centered on the Ahun and Oro-Ago communities, with six people snatched from Ahun and another four taken from Oro-Ago and the neighboring Oyate village.
Among the captives are a local sawmill employee named Clement Emmanuel and his apprentice, Solomon.
The pair were reportedly caught off guard by the attackers while they were out felling trees in Ahun. Two other men, known as Adewole and Adebayo, were similarly abducted while working on charcoal production.
The situation has left families in despair, with Clement’s wife making a heartbreaking plea for assistance as the kidnappers have set a ransom of N10 million.
She said, “Please help plead with them to release my husband. Where will I get N10m?”
In response to the crisis, the Kwara State Police Command stated that it has moved into action with an intelligence-driven crackdown after picking up leads on the criminal network.
State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, noted that investigators found the gang was actively maintaining a fleet of motorcycles to facilitate their raids.
According to him, “The operation led to the arrest of ten suspects, including a mechanic and a logistics operative supporting the gang.”
During the raid, authorities seized ten Bajaj Boxer motorcycles thought to be the group’s primary transport.
In a separate push within the same local government area, police managed to track down individuals linked to the earlier kidnapping of engineers and construction workers on Owu Falls Road. The breakthrough came after investigators traced a mobile phone stolen from one of the victims.
Furthermore, a 23-year-old woman named Awawu Maliki Bodo was taken into custody in connection with the kidnappings.
A search revealed she was in possession of a revolver and three live rounds of ammunition. Police officials have confirmed that the investigation remains wide open as they hunt for the remaining fugitives.
