By Grateful Ogunjebe
The Kogi State Government has announced the arrest of three individuals suspected of acting as informants for kidnapping syndicates operating in Okunland, within the western region of the state.
According to an official statement issued on Monday, the suspects were arrested in Ayetoro Kiri, located in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by the state government to dismantle criminal networks believed to be facilitating abductions in the region.
The first suspect, identified as Babatunde Aledare, was initially apprehended in Ayetoro Kiri. Following his arrest, Aledare reportedly made a confessional statement revealing the identities of other individuals involved in aiding kidnapping operations in the area.
Based on the information he provided, two additional suspects were arrested within a 48-hour period. They were named as Dare Okegbe and Lakutu Omobab Ajelesimi, both of whom are also from Ayetoro Kiri.
According to the statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the two newly arrested suspects confessed to collaborating with kidnapping groups to facilitate the abduction of members of their own community.
“This development marks another significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks in Okunland,” the statement said.
Fanwo added that further arrests could follow as investigations continue, noting that the confessions already obtained have strengthened the resolve of the state to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens across Kogi, stating that it would not relent in its fight against criminality in any part of the state.
“The Kogi State Government remains committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and will leave no stone unturned in the fight against criminality,” Fanwo said.
No additional details were provided regarding the operational methods of the suspects or whether they were linked to any specific past abductions in the area. The identities of any victims connected to the case were not disclosed, and no information was provided about formal charges as of the time of the announcement.
The arrest of the three suspects is the latest in a series of measures taken by the Kogi State Government to curb the rising incidence of abductions and organised crime in rural areas, particularly in parts of Kogi West.