One Tayo Adeleke, a suspected a member of a kidnapping and child trafficking gang operating in Ogun State, has been arrested by the police.
It was learnt that Adeleke is currently undergoing interrogation, following the latest attempt he made with two other men, now at large, to steal children at Omu Pempe community, in Obafemi-Owode Local Council of Ogun State, on Tuesday.
Luck ran out on the suspects after they stormed Baptist Church, Omu Pempe, at about 2:00 a.m. on a motorcycle, with a mission to cart away children from the premises and sell them at Benin Republic.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for the command, SP Omolola Odutola, said Adeleke was arrested with the effort of the So-Safe Corps and other vigilante groups in the community, while his colleagues escaped through the bush.
She said the suspect confessed during interrogation: “They came to the area to kidnap children. He said they have a syndicate, and they have been kidnapping children and selling them in the Benin Republic. We have arrested one and he will help in bringing others to book.”
She added: “Kidnappers have observed that the command has taken over highways in the state and they are now going into communities to operate. We are calling on our traditional rulers and community leaders in the state to establish internal security, to barricade the entry and exit points to their communities, and give security agents necessary information to aid in the securing of life and property.
“Villagers can easily identify strangers in their communities. They should help the police. Thank God, this was foiled. Ogun State command, under Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, would not relent until criminals are flushed out of the state, wherever they are.”
