By Seye Olumide and Moyosore Salami, Ibadan
The Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, arrested 10 suspected kidnappers who abducted former Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI), Adigun Agbaje, alongside other travellers, including two female students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The suspects were also paraded by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, at the Command Headquarters, Eleiyele, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The suspects are Mohammed Salfa (20), Usman Hassan (22), Mohammed Bello (28), Babangida Buhari Awalu (34), Kabiru Aliya (25), Mikailu Yahaya (25), Muhammadu Umoru (30), Ayanwola Samson Gbenga (22), Adewuyin Adewumi Sunday (34) and Rafiu Abdulmajeed (40).
Williams said that technological intelligence aided the operation with support from Amotekun (the Oyo State Security Network) and other communal partners, arrested Babangida Buhari Awalu, a commercial motorcyclist and Kabiru Aliyu, a courier for the kidnappers, while retrieving “exchanged money” for other members of the suspects around Ojoo in Ibadan.
He said the kidnappers attacked a team of policemen in a bid to rescue trapped victims on the highway, which led to the death of a police inspector during a fierce gun-duel.
The Oyo CP added that N7 million, four AK-47 rifles, 75 AK-47 live ammunition, two pairs of military camouflage, one mobile police beret and a victim’s bag were recovered from the abductors.
IN another development, there is possibility of a coalition among the fringe opposition parties in Oyo State, which might exclude the All Progressives Congress (APC), against the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, in the coming 2023 governorship election.
Sources told The Guardian yesterday that discussions were ongoing among the fringe parties, led by the candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Adebayo Adelabu, who is said to be in talks with the leadership of Oyo State chapter of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), some disgruntled members of the Oyo PDP and the APC.
MEANWHILE, it has been alleged that the likes of Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, Chief Hasim Gbolarunmi, Elder Wole Oyelese and host of other PDP members in Oyo, who were not on the same page with Makinde and the G-5 governors over the presidential candidate of their party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, may close ranks with Adelabu to work against the incumbent governor if Atiku peradventure wins the presidential election.
The Guardian learnt that the disgruntled members of APC in Oyo are waiting for the body language and signal from the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, before deciding where to go.
Some of the aggrieved APC members in Oyo have vowed not to support Folarin. They accused him of deliberately excluding them in the campaign programme and council.
BUT the Spokesman of Oyo PDP, Hakeem Olatunji, expressed confidence that Makinde is very certain of retaining power next year judging by the support he has from the masses of Oyo State.
Source: The Guardian
