Oyo police parade two herders over killing of youth leader

The Oyo State Police, yesterday, paraded two suspected herders for allegedly killing a community youth leader in Onidundun area of Akinyele Local Council of the state and a suspected kidnap kingpin in Ibadan alongside other members of a syndicate, including a gunrunner, who masterminded the kidnap of one Mrs. Oni Salawu Aderiyike Juliet on May 25 in Ibadan.

The suspects were paraded at the Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

The State’s Police Commissioner (CP), Ngozi Onadeko, while parading the suspects before journalists, gave the names of the suspects as Usman Mohammed, aged 27, and Umaru Mohammed, 16.

Ngozi maintained that on July 9, 2021, one Taofeek Olaide ‘m’ received a phone call from one Umaru Mohammed ‘m’ claiming to have cows for sale on the instruction of his father at Kara Market in Akinyele area of Ibadan.

She further said: “Upon the receipt of this call, Taofeek Olaide ‘m’ alongside one Yusuf Taiwo ‘m’ boarded a motorcycle to Akinyele to carry out the supposed business transaction.

“The duo upon arrival at an agreed spot picked up Umaru Mohammed ‘m’ and proceeded to Onidundu village in Akinyele area where the ranch was supposedly located and a kidnap syndicate arranged by Umaru Mohammed was waiting in ambush.

“The duo innocently walked into the ambush where Yusuf Taiwo was kidnapped but Taofeek Olaide managed to escape.

“Upon receipt of this information, officers from Moniya Division in collaboration with the ambush team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) swung into action, swiftly went to the scene, and tactically combed the area.

“This display of gallantry led to the rescue of the kidnapped Yusuf Taiwo who sustained gunshot injury on the thigh from his abductors, and the arrest of some members of this criminal syndicate.

“Regrettably, while these criminal elements took to their heels to evade arrest, they stumbled upon some youths from Onidundun village and released gunshots at one Usman Mohammed who was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.”

The CP, however, maintained that investigation was at the top gear to apprehend the remaining members of the criminal syndicate.

One of the suspects, Umaru Muhammed, who spoke with journalists, said: “I am a cow rustler and 16 years old. I was asked to call my customers for cows, and I called Taofeek but on our way to the village, we were attacked by my people. Though we have planned to kidnap them for ransom, unfortunately, the operation was foiled by some youths of the village. It ended in a shoot-out and one of the village guys was killed.

“I have not been involved in this kind of a crime before. It was my people currently at large now that asked me to call some of my customers to come and buy cows from me and they said we could kidnap them for ransom. They threatened that if I don’t cooperate, they would deal with me and I was forced to do as I was ordered.

“One of my people that we planned the operation together was arrested on the spot and it was his arrest that led to my arrest.”