The Ogun State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing investigation following the arrest of two suspects in the Atiba area of Ijebu-Ode, with preliminary findings linking them to a kidnapping and murder case in the Okada area of Edo State.

The development followed the June 4 arrest of the suspects by personnel of the Nigeria Forest Security Service and the commencement of investigations into their activities.

Spokesperson for the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday.

Babaseyi said the command was updating members of the public on significant developments arising from intelligence-driven inquiries conducted by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

“Following extensive profiling and investigation, the suspects were identified as Gafaru Adamu, 25, and Muhammed Sanni, 20.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects are wanted in connection with an ongoing investigation into a kidnapping and murder case reported in the Okada area of Edo State.

“Further intelligence gathered by the command indicates that the suspects are alleged members of a seven-man kidnapping syndicate linked to the incident under investigation.

“During the course of the investigation, operatives recovered one pair of police camouflage uniform and three mobile phones from the suspects. The exhibits have been properly documented and taken into custody to aid further investigation,” he said.

According to him, the alleged offences under investigation occurred outside Ogun State.

Babaseyi added that in line with established inter-state policing procedures and collaboration among state police commands, the suspects and all recovered exhibits would be transferred to the Edo State Police Command, which has primary jurisdiction over the matter, for further investigation and necessary legal processes.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, diligence and intelligence-gathering capabilities of the operatives whose swift actions led to the identification of the suspects and recovery of critical exhibits.

He reiterated that the command remained resolute in its determination to prevent criminal elements from using Ogun State as a hideout or transit point for unlawful activities.

Ojajuni assured residents that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies, proactive policing measures and strategic inter-state collaboration to strengthen public safety and security across the state.

He also encouraged the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to assist law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime and criminality.

MEANWHILE, the command refuted a viral video circulating on social media purportedly showing armed men operating within a forest in the state.

The command stated that the video was false, misleading and did not originate from Ogun State or any part of Nigeria.

According to Babaseyi, preliminary findings and credible fact-checks showed that the footage, which depicted some individuals cooking in a bush setting, was recorded in Kenya during an operation involving cattle rustlers and captured by a General Service Unit (GSU) drone.

“Further verification indicates that the video was first uploaded online in 2022 and has since been deliberately recirculated with a false narrative to create panic and misinform the public about the security situation in Ogun State,” he added.

Ojajuni condemned the spread of unverified and deceptive content, noting that it was capable of causing unnecessary fear and undermining public confidence in security agencies.

He emphasised that there was no intelligence or operational report supporting claims of criminal groups operating within forests or any part of Ogun State.