13 Suspected Kidnappers, Cultists to Face Trial in Osun

The Osun State Police Command has announced plans to prosecute 13 suspects arrested for alleged kidnapping, cultism, ritual-related offences, stealing, hooliganism and unlawful possession of substances suspected to be Indian hemp during separate operations across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he also confirmed the rescue of a kidnapped herder and the recovery of over N2.2 million believed to be ransom proceeds.

According to the police commissioner, the suspects include two alleged kidnappers, three suspected cultists under investigation for ritual-related activities and eight others arrested during coordinated raids on identified criminal hideouts.

Gotan said police operatives rescued 50-year-old Fulani herder, Haruna Yusuf, who was abducted on July 9 near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road.

He explained that detectives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit monitored the ransom payment process before launching an operation at the designated collection point in Majeroku along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway on July 12.

During the operation, security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, rescued the victim unharmed and arrested one suspect, while other members of the gang escaped with gunshot wounds.

“The team successfully rescued the victim unhurt. The kidnappers, on sighting the operatives, opened fire, and the police equally responded professionally, leading to a gun duel during which some of the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and one was arrested, while others fled.

“The sum of N2,217,800 was recovered at the scene as proceeds of ransom. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping gang,” Gotan said.

The commissioner also disclosed that another suspected kidnapper, Buhari Mutari, was arrested in Seyin, Oyo State, following intelligence gathered during investigations into a failed kidnap attempt at Ijebu-Jesa in May.

He further revealed that three suspected cultists arrested in Iree were being investigated for alleged ritual-related activities after officers recovered a small coffin, charms and locally made soaps from them.

Gotan said the remaining eight suspects were arrested for offences ranging from stealing and hooliganism to unlawful possession of suspected Indian hemp.

He assured residents that all suspects would be charged to court after investigations while reaffirming the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Osun State.