The police command in Ondo says the four suspects arrested at Akure airport in Ondo are not bandits but logistics suppliers to kidnappers.
In a statement on Monday, Abayomi Jimoh, Ondo police
spokesperson, rejected the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) report
that four bandits were arrested behind the Akure airport perimeter near Eleyewo
community.
FAAN, in a statement late Sunday, had said the bandits were
apprehended following a “coordinated security operation involving aviation and
local security agencies”.
“During the operation, some individuals were seen attempting
to flee the area. Four suspects were eventually apprehended by the joint
security team and have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area
Command for further interrogation,” FAAN had said.
In a counter statement however, Jimoh asked the public to
disregard “inaccurate reports suggesting that bandits” were arrested at the
Akure airport.
The Ondo police spokesperson said the arrested kidnappers’
logistic suppliers have made “useful confessional statements that are currently
aiding ongoing investigations”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Command wishes to state
clearly that no such incident occurred at the Akure Airport, and there was no
security breach of any kind at the facility,” the statement reads.
“The command, however, received credible intelligence from a
concerned citizen regarding the activities of suspected kidnappers around the
Eleyewo axis of Akure.
“Acting swiftly on the tip-off, operatives of the Command
launched a targeted operation in the area which led to the arrest of two
suspects.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects are
Kidnap Logistics Suppliers aiding kidnap activities within the state.
“They have since made useful confessional statements that
are currently aiding ongoing investigations and efforts to apprehend other
members of the criminal network.
“The Ondo state police command therefore urges members of
the public to disregard the inaccurate reports suggesting that bandits were
arrested at the Akure Airport, as such claims are false, misleading, and
capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
‘NO BANDITS IN ONDO’
Speaking with journalists in Akure, Adebowale Lawal,
commissioner of police in the state, said the report that four bandits were
arrested at the airport was inaccurate.
“Let me quickly debunk that issue of arrest of four bandits.
We don’t have bandits in Ondo state. We have criminals, not bandits,” Lawal
said.
The police chief explained that the command only arrested
two suspects believed to be logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers operating
within parts of the state.
“Two suspected logistics suppliers to those criminals and
kidnappers were arrested along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis. One other suspect
was arrested at Ilu-Abo but was not connected to the first two,” he said.
Lawal insisted that none of the suspects was arrested inside
the airport facility as suggested in FAAN’s statement.
“So they were never arrested at the airport, contrary to the
press statement made by the FAAN management staff,” he added.
Asked if the police were directly disputing FAAN’s account
of the incident, the commissioner responded: “Yes, of course. We carried out
the operation. So they were not there. They were not arrested inside the
airport.”
He further clarified that the suspects were only taken close
to the airport area during the investigation after being compelled to lead
security operatives to other possible hideouts.
“They were leading them to where others were. So they were
not actually arrested at the airport,” Lawal added.
Since the turn of the year, Ondo state has witnessed a surge
in violent attacks, leading to deaths and abduction of residents.
On March 3, protesters from Ayede Ogbese community, in Akure
north LGA of Ondo, blocked the popular Akure-Owo-Benin highway over incessant
killings and abductions in their community.
On March 10, residents of Ilu-Abo and neighbouring
communities in Akure North LGA of Ondo, barricaded the Akure-Owo expressway, in
protest against rising cases of kidnapping in the area.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com