The Kwara State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping and extortion attempt, arresting two nationals of the Republic of Togo and recovering the mobile phone allegedly used to threaten the intended victim. The Command said the operation followed a report lodged at the Okuta Police Division by one S.……
The Kwara State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping and extortion attempt, arresting two nationals of the Republic of Togo and recovering the mobile phone allegedly used to threaten the intended victim.
The Command said the operation followed a report lodged at the Okuta Police Division by one S. Ismaila, who alleged that he received repeated phone calls from an anonymous caller demanding N22 million to prevent his abduction.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the caller also threatened to kidnap the complainant and kill his younger brother, Musa Ismaila, if the ransom demand was not met.
The statement said police operatives immediately launched an intelligence-led operation in collaboration with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), using technical support to track the suspects.
The operation led to the arrest of Yakubu Ismaila and Hadiza Kosia, both citizens of the Republic of Togo.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, linked the two suspects to the alleged criminal conspiracy.
The Command disclosed that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their roles in the attempted kidnapping and extortion plot.
Police also recovered a mobile phone allegedly used to make the threatening calls, describing it as a key exhibit in the ongoing investigation.
Commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, praised their professionalism and swift response in preventing what he described as a potential security breach.
He said the operation reflected the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
The Commissioner also assured residents that investigations had been intensified to uncover and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network.
He reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to ensure that all those connected with the alleged plot are brought to justice.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to sustaining peace and security across Kwara State.
