The Oyo State Police Command has arrested six suspected informants and logistics providers linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Security authorities, however, disclosed that none of the principal bandits operating within the forest have been apprehended, as they continue to evade direct tracking through the use of sophisticated communication technologies.
Arrested Suspects Identified
According to police sources, those arrested are not members of the core kidnapping gang but individuals believed to have provided logistical support and intelligence to the criminals.
Among those arrested are Babangida Buhari Awalu and Kabiru Aliyu, both commercial motorcycle operators. The suspects were apprehended in the Ojoo area of Ibadan while allegedly attempting to collect ransom proceeds on behalf of the kidnappers.
Also arrested during follow-up investigations were Adewuyi Sunday, Ayanwola Gbenga, and Rafiu Abdulmajeed, who are reportedly from the Gbugbu area of Kwara State and Ago-Are in Oyo State.
Another suspect, Adeleye Ayomide, a university student, was tracked and arrested by military personnel after he was allegedly found in possession of a victim's mobile phone. Investigators further linked ransom-related email communications sent to parents of the abducted victims to a device traced to him.
Security agencies have withheld detailed residential information about the suspects, citing ongoing investigations and prosecution procedures.
Investigators Uncover Communication Network
The Oyo State Police Command revealed that intercepted telephone conversations played a crucial role in exposing the activities of local informants working with the kidnappers.
According to investigators, some of the suspects provided real-time guidance to the bandits, helping them navigate routes within the Old Oyo National Park and avoid security operatives deployed in the area.
Despite Nigeria's mandatory National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage policy, authorities say the main perpetrators have continued to circumvent tracking mechanisms.
Officials explained that the criminal syndicate relies on advanced call-routing systems and network-masking technologies that reroute communications through multiple remote cell towers, making it difficult for security agencies to pinpoint their exact locations or verify their identities.
Ransom Funds Traced to Bank Accounts
Investigations further revealed that ransom payments made by families of the victims were routed through several bank accounts before being distributed to members of the kidnapping network.
Security reports indicate that funds linked to digital extortion activities associated with Adeleye Ayomide passed through a Wema Bank account.
Authorities also traced transactions to accounts allegedly operated by Adewuyi Sunday, Ayanwola Gbenga, and Rafiu Abdulmajeed, which investigators believe were used as temporary collection points before cash was delivered to the kidnappers in the forest.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), working alongside anti-graft agencies, has reportedly frozen the identified accounts as part of efforts to track the movement of funds and uncover additional members of the syndicate.
Security agencies have assured residents that investigations are ongoing and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the remaining suspects behind the school abduction.
No comments:
Post a Comment