Police arrest leader of Ekiti monarch’s kidnappers’

The leader of the suspected kidnappers of the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi, and the Acting Provost of the College of Education , Ikere, Dr Gabriel Olowoyo, has been arrested.

The monarch, the provost, and two officials of Agricultural Development Project, Mrs. Helen Olufemi, and her driver were killed in an auto crash in Kogi State while the kidnappers were taking them away.

Our correspondent gathered that the leader of the team identified as Charles Ovie Ojo was arrested at a hospital in Lokoja, Kogi State , where he was receiving treatment and was immediately taken to Abuja by the police.

A security source told journalists that the police were able to arrest the suspected gang leader because he suffered multiple fractures on his legs in the accident.

The gang was said to have been involved in previous cases of high profile assassinations in Ekiti State.

The police source said it had been discovered that the same team, in 2009 killed three officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ekiti State, adding that the team had been linked with cases of robberies in the state and some neighbouring states.

He said that the police had in the past arrested the mother, sister and a girl friend of the alleged criminal in a bid to arrest the suspect. He added that the suspect had been declared wanted in the past.

He said, “People are afraid that this criminal may be released because of his connection with some politicians. But I believe that no sane person will hurriedly release such a person, especially if he was found to be useful in police investigation.”

The Police Public Relations Officer for Ekiti State, Mr. Jimoh Mohammed, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday confirmed that the suspected kidnapper had been arrested.

He said, “The case has been taken over by Federal SARS.”

Meanwhile, the Action Congress in the state has described the kidnapping as unfortunate.

The party said this in a statement issued by its spokesman, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, to commiserate with the families of the victims.

The statement read, “It is so unfortunate for Ekiti to lose two of its prominent citizens in a single day in the hands of hoodlums who are bent on creating a state of anarchy in Ekiti State . It is apposite that the preys of these satanic predators ranged from the hapless masses, bank managers to police officers.

“We had been treated, during the reign of the interlopers, to the killing of Special anti-robbery squad officers, carting away of bank managers, bestial rape, violent robberies and dastardly cult activities.

“All these, we believe are evil designs to make Ekiti a no-go area for her sons and daughters who are beacons of hope for the traumatised state. This string of attacks, kidnappings and robberies are keep-off signs to men and women of goodwill, so as to give enough space for the goons who are currently unleashing an unprecedented economic and socio political desolation on the poor state.”

http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=14394&z=12