Suspected Kidnappers Arrested in Ondo

James Sowole in Akure

For alleged involvement in the kidnapping and the resultant death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Olumide Odinmayo, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, identified as Bekewei Francis and his son, David, and six other suspects.

The suspects were paraded at the Police headquarters, Akure, by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibuforo Hilda-Harrison.

Odimayo was allegedly abducted by some hoodlums in his house at Igbotu in Ese Odo local government Area of the state last Thursday.

He was allegedly killed by the suspected kidnappers who threw his corpse into a river between Sabomi and Igbotu communities in the Ese Odo Local Government Area, thereafter the police arrested eight persons among whom were Francis and his son.

Also paraded with the father and son were Fikesei Inuesokan, Ekan Roman, a Togolese; Gbamila Success, Bodidi Idowu, Saturday Amos and Ijanboh Kehinde.

Harrison confirmed that the suspects were among the hoodlums who kidnapped and killed the APC chieftain, noting that no fewer than 15 persons were involved in the dastardly act.

He said: “It was very disheartening that this could still be happening in this state.”
She explained that one AK49 rifle with 21 rounds live ammunition was recovered from David, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the kidnapping gang.

The commissioner, who advised people of the state to be security conscious of their environment, said the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation on the incident.

Francis said he was arrested by the police because his son was involved in the abduction of the politician, saying he never participated in the crime.

However, his son, David, confessed to the crime but said they did not kill the APC politician.
David said they were not the ones who killed the APC chieftain but they abandoned him in the river when the vigilance group was chasing them.

The youths of the town were said to have killed one of the abductors during the operation to kidnap the deceased.