By Ahmed Ajikobi
One of the most wanted criminals on the Kwara State Police Command list has been arrested by the men of the Nigeria security and Civil Defense Corps.
Also arrested were eight other suspects, who were paraded last Monday.
The suspects are Mustapha Mohammed, 25, Yahya Binto, 25, Yusuf Akanbi, 21, Lateef Jimoh, 26, Shina Hamed, 21, Yusuf Ayinla, 35, Damilare Idris Kanike,19, Aliu Bashir, 21, and Mustapha Popoola 35 all males.
The nine suspects were nabbed for various crimes within Ilorin metropolis.
Speaking to journalists while parading the suspects, the State Commandant, Mr. Iskil Ayinla Makinde explained that the suspects were arrested at various locations within Ilorin which include Oja Gbooro, Isale Koko, Shao Garage, Isale Kanike, Ipata Market.
“We have told these criminals that Kwara is not a safe haven for them. They either relocate to other places or we apprehend them for prosecution.
“We promised before Christmas to make the state safe for residents and those coming for yuletide celebrations and these arrests is to make good our promises.
“The command will not relent until we arrest each and every one of those suspects that are at large and bring them to justice.”
The offences range from street lights vandalization, transformer and cable vandalization and possession of hard drugs contrary to relevant sections of the Nigerian constitution.
Meanwhile, the Kwara Police Command last Wednesday paraded a 24-year-old teacher,Madinat Ibrahim, who allegedly faked own kidnapping
Medinat, who was paraded alongside two other suspects identified as Amudalat Wahab (30) and Hammed Lekan (28) said she committed the crime to raise money to settle a debt which accrued from the monthly contribution at the private school where she serves as a teacher.
She alleged she was maltreated by her stepmother who also caused friction between her and her father, adding that she decided to fake her own kidnap to get money to offset debts she incurred during COVID-19 lockdown.
I teach in a private school where I was paid N15,000. We organised monthly contribution which I collected and invested in a business, but when COVID-19 broke out, our salary was stopped, I could no longer continue with the contribution.
“Those who were in the group continued to mount pressure on me to pay up my own contribution and there is nowhere that I could get the money. So I decided to go and hide in my sister’s place and I told someone to call my father on phone that I was kidnapped and demanded a ransom of N250,000 which was paid to my friend’s account.” she said
Parading her before newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Bagega, said Medinat conspired with her elder sister, Amudalat Wahab, and one Hammed Lekan to arrange her kidnap and they have both been arrested as well.
The CP said a bank account, belonging to one Hammed Lekan, was used to cash the N250,000.
