Nigerian police uncover shallow graves of kidnapped victims
The Ogun State Police Command has unearthed the shallow graves of two individuals who fell victim to a nefarious kidnapping ring operating in the Ijebu-Igbo area.
The victims, 71-year-old farmer Adekunle Ifelaja and 34-year-old Ogunyemi Femi, were abducted and brutally murdered by a seven-member criminal gang.
The breakthrough in the case came after the arrest of two suspects, Chukwuma Bartholomew and Igwe Monday, who are believed to be key players in the gang.
According to a statement released by the spokesperson for the state command, Omolola Odutola, the anti-kidnapping squad apprehended the suspects just five days after a dramatic gunfight that resulted in the deaths of two other kidnappers and the rescue of several hostages, including Indian nationals.
“After intense interrogation, the suspects confessed to their heinous crimes and led the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, along with the anti-kidnapping squad, to the forest in Ijebu-Igbo where the victims were buried,” Odutola disclosed.
Odutola’s statement detailed the sinister modus operandi of the gang: “They kidnapped their victims, demanded ransom from their family members, and then killed them. The suspects buried the bodies in shallow graves within the forest.”
The police’s meticulous investigation revealed that the gang had abducted Femi on November 23, 2023, from his home. They recorded a ransom video and sent it to his family, only to kill him despite the payment of the ransom.
Similarly, on December 31, 2023, the elderly farmer Adekunle Ifelaja was kidnapped. The gang demanded a ransom through a video sent via WhatsApp, but again, the victim was mercilessly executed and buried even after the ransom was paid.
This discovery has sent shockwaves through the community and underscores the relentless efforts of the Ogun State Police Command to combat kidnapping and bring perpetrators to justice.
The investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend the remaining members of the criminal syndicate.
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