Two persons, Umoru Mohammed and Audu Mohammed, suspected of being involved in the abduction and murder of 15-year-old Muazu Tombata, have been taken into custody by the Ogun State Police Command.
PUNCH Metro, in a telephone conversation with the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, on Monday, gathered that the victim was allegedly kidnapped while tending to his father’s cows alongside four other children in Abule Oje in the Imala area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
Odutola revealed that while the four other children returned to the community with their cows, Muazu was missing, which raised concerns in the community.
After a few days, it was learnt that the abductors reached out to the victim’s family demanding a ransom of N500,000, which was reportedly paid, but they failed to release the teenager.
The PPRO added that when Tombata was not released, a leader in the community reported a missing person case to the Divisional Police Officer in the area, who acted promptly by leading a search team for the teenager.
The PPRO continued, “On September 6, the same community leader received a call from an active mobile number instructing him to a riverside in Oje forest, after paying a ransom of N500,000.
“The Imala Divisional Police Officer led a search team and located the body of the missing person, Muazu Tombata, a 15-year-old. They had tied the boy’s neck and slaughtered him.”
Odutola added that an investigation into the mobile line that had contacted the family to demand the ransom revealed images of the suspected perpetrators, who were tracked and arrested after a rigorous investigation by the police.
She added, “On September 7, 2024, two suspects, Umoru Mohammed and Audu Mohammed, were arrested at Kara Market in Olodo.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to having demanded a ransom from the victim’s family. They are undergoing investigation and are collaborating with the police to assist in locating others involved in the crime.”
The PPRO stressed that the command remains committed to curbing the menace of kidnapping and bringing perpetrators to book.
“The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, assures the good people of Ogun State that under his watch, the menace of kidnapping will be curbed and all those perpetrating these acts will be brought to book,” Odutola concluded.
PUNCH Metro reported on Monday that a suspect was arrested after some kidnappers abducted two male adults while inspecting farmland in Ikutoke village in the Ode-Remo area of Remo North Local Government Area of the state.
A police source had told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the victims, identified as Olajesu and Juwon, in the company of a surveyor and a young boy, had gone to inspect the boundary of a farm in the village before the incident happened.
One Ganiu Idowu was said to have invited them to the land for inspection, but upon the arrival of Juwon and Olajesu at the farm, Idowu excused himself and told his visitors that he was returning home.
Odutola, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that Ganiu, who was suspected of orchestrating the kidnapping, was arrested.
