Police Arrest Six Over Oke-Ode Killings, Others for Kidnapping, Rape and Murder in Kwara
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, says six suspects have been arrested over the deadly attack in Oke-Ode that left 15 people, including the village head, dead.
Ojo disclosed this on Friday in Ilorin while briefing journalists at the command headquarters.
He said the arrests followed intensified operations by police tactical teams across the state.
He also revealed that operatives tracked and arrested one Sanni Gbadamosi in Kano State for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of his cousin in Ajase-Ipo and demanding ₦120,000 ransom.
“In Ajase-Ipo, we arrested one Sanni Gbadamosi who arranged the kidnap of his cousin and demanded ₦120,000 ransom. Our digital intelligence system led to his arrest in Kano,” Ojo said.
The commissioner further narrated how a motorcycle mechanic, identified as Muhammadu Jalo from Bode Sadu, allegedly killed his customer by severing his head with a machete after an argument. The suspect, he said, had confessed to the crime and was in custody.
Ojo also confirmed the arrest of a 15-year-old boy, Falade Ebenezer, for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl in an uncompleted building. He said the victim’s mother reported the case after the girl revealed what happened.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime and will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the CP added.
He assured residents that normalcy had returned to Oke-Ode, Babanla, and other crisis-prone communities following joint security operations.
“Today, Friday, is a market day in Oke-Ode, and it was full. A whole brigade is on ground, so people have started returning home. Everyone is now vigilant,” Ojo said. “I learnt someone was arrested in the market today because people suspected his movements.”
The commissioner blamed the rising spate of kidnapping on informants and the recruitment of young boys by kidnappers through financial inducement.
“Kidnappers recruit people by enticing them with money. We discovered that most of the problems security agents face in Kwara are caused by too many informants working for kidnappers,” he said.
Ojo urged residents to report kidnapping cases promptly, lamenting that families often conceal incidents out of fear for victims’ safety.
“The problem is that when relatives are kidnapped, the perpetrators threaten to kill the victims if police are informed. Because of that, families prefer to pay ransom secretly without telling us,” he explained. “We are encouraging people to speak out.”
The police commissioner assured that the command, working with other security agencies, remained determined to flush out criminal elements and restore lasting peace across Kwara State.
