The police command in Osun on Sunday said it had arrested eight suspects in connection with the kidnapping of the branch chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Apomu, Ali Kazeem, aka Kekere Kazuma.

Apomu is located in the Isokan local government area of Osun.

According to police spokesman SP Yemisi Opalola, Mr Kazeem was allegedly abducted on Saturday and taken into a bush after he was trailed from his motor park to Oke-Afa Area in Apomu.

“Based on the information, the area commander of Ikire promptly mobilised the combined team of vigilante and police detectives from Ikire area command to the scene,” a police statement said.

It added, “The team, however, discovered that the victim was traced from his motor park to Oke Afa Area, Apomu, where he was forcefully stopped, pulled out from his Toyota Corolla ash colour with registration number, APM 203 AA, macheted and taken away by the assailant(s).”

Ms Opalola added that photographs were taken at the scene and that the command had mobilised a police tactical team, local hunters and locals to comb the surrounding bush to rescue the victim.

She pointed out that the police could not say whether the NURTW leader was dead or alive.

She, however, said police commissioner Olawale Olokode had assured the public that the kidnappers would be arrested and made to face justice. 

(NAN)