ONDO POLICE ARREST TWO SUSPECTED KILLERS OF AIYEDATIWA’S CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR
Two persons have been taken into custody by the Ondo State Police Command operations in relation to the abduction and murder of Alaba Abe, a lawmaker and All Progressives Congress (APC) member, in the state’s Akoko South West Local Government Area.
The deceased, who was the coordinator of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation in the council area, was allegedly kidnapped and slain by gunmen in front of his residence in the Supare Akoko community in April this year.
In a statement released on Friday, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed the arrest.
The suspects, Mohammed Sheu and Abubakar Umar, were taken into custody by the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit, she added.
āOn 30th On the 14th of November, 2024, men of the Special Anti Kidnapping on Stop and Search at Ikare Junction at about 15.20 pm intercepted one Hiace vehicle popularly known as Hummer Bus conveying passengers to Owo,ā the statement read.
āDuring the search, Mohammed Sheu, 21 years demeanour changed, and on reasonable suspicion, he was singled out for brief interrogation. During interrogation, a voice note dropped as a message on his phone, when opened, it was a reply from Sheuās friend, on the run, who confirmed to have seen his message.
āA prior voice note sent by Sheu was opened; he told his friend that he is not financially buoyant and told him to contact him if there is any kidnapping job available that can fetch them some money.
āSheu was later arrested and taken to the station for proper investigation, where he confessed to other crimes he has committed ranging from kidnapping and robbery in various places like Kogi, Niger, Akoko, Ifon, Ipele axis and Owo.
The police spokesperson disclosed that their style of operation was locating the victimās residence, going in there and picking them into the bush, after which ransom would be demanded.
āFurther investigation led to the arrest of Abubakar Umar, 24 years old, who also confessed to committing a similar crime as a gang member.
āThe suspects stated further that they were responsible for the kidnap at Supare Akoko that led to the death of Alaba Abe Excel in April 2024, and in September, they all kidnapped another person in a popular Hotel in Owo,ā she added.
Odunlami-Omisanya noted that further investigation on the matter is ongoing and efforts are being made to apprehend other suspects in connection with the killing.