Kidnappers reportedly took a sum of N1,485,000 from an Ogun-based man after he was tricked to come and purchase cattle.
BREAKINGNG gathered that the 25-year-old victim, identified as Babatunde Bakare, is a Fulani man who deals in cattle business and hails from Osun State.
It was learnt that Bakare was lured into a bush at the boundary between Ogun and Osun states before he was kidnapped by three Fulani men.
According to the police which got the report on Boxing Day, the incident took place on December 10, 2024.
Bakare, who was released after his family paid the huge ransom, was said to have recognised one of the kidnappers while at a General Meeting of the Fulani men on a later date.
“On 26th December 2024, at approximately 3:30pm, a report was received from Babatunde Bakare, a 25-year-old Fulani man from Ikire, Osun State, at the Ijebu Igbo Division.
“He reported that on 10th December 2024, he was contacted by Fulani herdsmen via phone to come and buy cattle from their settlement, located at the boundary between Ogun and Osun states, in a remote area.
“Upon arrival at the location, Babatunde was immediately kidnapped by three young Fulani men, who demanded a ransom of three million naira for his release. His family members were contacted and a sum of one million naira in cash was taken to the kidnappers. Additionally, 400,000 naira was transferred from Babatunde’s bank account to one of the kidnappers. The kidnappers also recovered 85,000 naira from his pocket. After being released, Babatunde reported the incident to the Orile Owu and Apomu Police Stations in Osun State,” a police source told our reporter.
While confirming the incident and speaking on how the victim recognised one of the suspects, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, said, “On 26th December 2024, during a general Fulani meeting at the Fulani Kara Market in Ijebu Igbo, Babatunde identified one of the kidnappers.”
Odutola said subsequently, the three suspects were arrested, namely Sule Ishaq (20 years old), Sumo Usman (20 years old), and Sani Lawal (25 years old).
According to her, the police have commenced further probe into the incident following the arrest.
“The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after preliminary investigations,” she added.
