The Osun police command has arrested three persons over the alleged kidnapping of herders in the Wasinmi and Ijebu-Jesa areas of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Osogbo during the parade of suspects at the command headquarters.

Mr Gotan said one of the suspects was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 50-year-old herder in a remote settlement near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan–Ife/Ibadan Road on July 9.

He said the suspect was apprehended on July 12 by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Anti-Kidnapping Section, while attempting to collect ransom from the victim’s relatives.

“On sighting police operatives, the suspect’s gang opened fire, leading to a gun duel. Some of the suspects were shot but escaped with gunshot injuries,” he said.

The police commissioner, however, said the suspect was arrested with gunshot wounds and had been taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr Gotan said N2.2 million, suspected to be ransom proceeds, was recovered at the scene, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Similarly, he said another suspected member of a kidnapping gang was arrested while attempting to kidnap a herder in a settlement in Ijebu-Jesa on May 7.

He said the arrest of the suspect led to the apprehension of another suspect in Iseyi Town, Oyo State.

Mr Gotan added that other suspects were also arrested across the state for various offences.

He said all the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigations. 

(NAN)