Police Rescue Mother, Two Kids from Suspected Kidnappers in Kwara

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Operatives of  Kwara State Police Command at the weekend rescued kidnapped woman and her two children in the Oko-Olowo area on the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital.

The police, however,  said that men of the command were able to arrest two suspects through diligent investigations and cooperation of the communities where the abductions took place

The suspects, Isah Umaru and Umaru Maanu, were also alleged to have abducted a man identified as Sarafa Atilola in Paasa area of Asa LGA.

Parading the suspects in Ilorin, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Victor Olaiya explained that “The suspects, Isah Umaru and Umaru Maanu, were also alleged to have abducted a man identified as Sarafa Atilola in Paasa area of Asa LGA”.

He noted that the suspects allegedly kidnapped Atilola late last year while they abducted the woman and her children in March this year.

He said: “The woman was identified as Afusat Lawal while her children are Taofik Lawal and Aliyu Lawal.

Olaiya said the suspects made use of Atilola’s phone to contact  the   husband of Mrs Lawal, Hon. Ayansola Lawal, to demand ransom for the release of his wife and children.

Olaiya explained that the police were able to arrest the suspects through diligent investigations and cooperation of the communities where the abductions took place.

He also disclosed  the arrest of a 24-year-old man who planned his own kidnap so he could benefit from the ransom that would have been paid for his release.

He said police commenced investigations on the matter when the elder brother of the man reported that the man was missing.

Olaiya said the purported kidnappers of the man had demanded N3 million ransom before they agreed to accept N500, 000 with initial instalment of N200,000.

He said a POS operator who facilitated the financial transaction was arrested alongside the man, adding that the two suspects would soon be charged to court.