55-year-old abductee escapes as kidnappers sleep off

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

A 55-year-old man, Idowu Alade, has escaped from a kidnappers’ hideout in Ose Local Government, Ondo State while his abductors were asleep.

The Ondo State Police Command subsequently arrested two suspected members of the kidnapping gang following the victim’s escape.

Alade was reportedly abducted at Aroge Camp, near Idoani, on August 21, at about 6:00pm, after leaving his residence to buy a recharge card.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abayomi Jimoh, said the victim’s failure to return home prompted members of the community to launch a search for him the following morning before the matter was reported at the Idoani Police Division.

He said police operatives, working with personnel of the Amotekun Corps, vigilante groups and local hunters, immediately commenced intensive search and bush-combing operations to locate the victim.

Jimoh said Alade eventually escaped from the kidnappers’ hideout at about 4:00am on August 23 while his captors were asleep.

He said the victim later emerged through the Ifira area, where security operatives, acting on credible intelligence, located and rescued him.

According to him, Alade was subsequently taken for medical attention after sustaining injuries during his ordeal.

Following the escape, the police placed the area on red alert, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Usman Shaibu, 25, and Sanni Musa, 27, by a patrol team from the Isua Division at about 2:15pm the same day.

Jimoh said that after regaining sufficient strength to assist investigators, Alade identified the two suspects as the men who allegedly abducted him on August 21.

He said the identification was carried out formally at the police station.

The command also disclosed that the victim’s mobile phone was recovered from the suspects, who allegedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.

The suspects were also said to have provided information on other members of the alleged kidnapping network, including an accomplice reportedly based in Auchi.

Jimoh said the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, had directed that the suspects and case file be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet and comprehensive investigation.

He added that the move was aimed at identifying and arresting other members of the alleged criminal network.