• Police arrest four suspects
The Chief Imam of Uso, in Owo Local Council of Ondo State, Alhaji Ibrahim Bodunde, who was kidnapped a few days ago in the community, yesterday, narrated how his abductors assaulted him for days over his inability to communicate in English Language.
According to the Islamic cleric, his abductors became furious that he could not speak English during interrogation. Bodunde, 67, was abducted on June 18, 2023, while working on his farm at Asolo Camp within the community, where his abductors trailed him.
He disclosed that his abductors demanded N10 million ransom for his release, but eventually his family paid N2 million before they led him back to his farm and released him.
Speaking at the police headquarters in Akure, the state capital, the victim added that he was made to trek non-stop for six hours inside the bush before getting to the kidnappers’ den. He said: “When we arrived at their den, they put my back to a tree and tied my hands to my back. My legs were also tied.
“Before I was kidnapped, they had information about me as they reeled out my dossier to me.
“They insisted that I should speak to them in Pidgin English and not Yoruba. Each time I mistakenly spoke Yoruba, I would be beaten mercilessly.
“Negotiation with my family by the kidnappers started when the leader of the gang joined them at the hideout.”
MEANWHILE, three suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime after the police tracked the telephone number used to negotiate with the family.
The phone number was said to have been traced to one of the suspects, Isah Bello, 40. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, while parading the suspects said: “On June 18, 2023, one Mrs. Bodunde, at about 6:00 p.m., went to Uso division to complain that her husband, Alli Ibrahim Bodunde, went to the farm and he was supposed to come back at about 2:00p.m., but unfortunately, when they did not see him, they sent two persons to the farm to look for him.
“When they got to the farm, they met his car and his mobile phone, but they could not see him. Immediately the case was reported, the police swung into action and at the end of the day, the man was released.
“But in the course of the investigation, we realised that the man in question is the Chief Imam of the Uso community, and through our intelligence team, we were able to arrest the suspects, and at the end of the investigations, the suspects will be charged in court.”
According to her, the suspects include Muinah Mohammed 19, Aisha Bello, 20 and Isah Bello, 40.
