Story by Iyiola Ayomide
The press conference, presided over by the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, detailed the breakthroughs the Command has made in apprehending the remaining members of the gang following the earlier arrest of two suspects, Chukwuma Bartholomew and Igwe Monday.
The gang, which had terrorized the region for over a year, was involved in multiple cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder. Their modus operandi, as revealed during the briefing, included sophisticated and coordinated attacks that left a trail of victims and grieving families in their wake.
According to the Police, one of the earliest incidents recounted was the invasion of the home of Raheem Azeez in the Ojowo area of Ijebu-Igbo on July 28, 2023. The armed men not only robbed Azeez and his wife of their valuables but also attacked another resident, Oluwaseun Oworu Samuel, shooting him through a window before robbing him. Although Samuel was rushed to Babcock University Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on August 4, 2023. His death marked the beginning of a series of increasingly violent crimes by the gang.
In another harrowing incident on October 2, 2023, the gang kidnapped 17-year-old Elizabeth Adeniran from her home in Egbe, Oke Super, Ijebu-Igbo. Despite her family’s payment of a N3.1 million ransom, the kidnappers killed Elizabeth and disposed of her body in a well. The gang’s cruelty was further evidenced by their use of the late Oluwaseun Samuel’s Moniepoint account to receive the ransom, a tactic they employed in multiple cases.
On November 11, 2023, the gang struck again, targeting the home of Professor Julius Niyi Benedict, the traditional ruler of Aparaki Ijebu. After robbing him and his wife, they kidnapped the professor’s wife, Abigael Olubunmi. Although they transferred a small sum from her account using the Moniepoint account, the kidnappers eventually abandoned her in a forest. Fortunately, she managed to escape and reunite with her family.
The gang’s reign of terror continued with the kidnapping and murder of Ogunyemi Femi on November 23, 2023, and the abduction of Adedayo Kehinde Temitayo on February 27, 2024, who miraculously escaped after being thrown into a well by his captors. The gang also kidnapped and murdered Oladokun Bolanle on March 12, 2024, after collecting a ransom from her family.
The victims’ bodies were buried in shallow graves in various locations, including Japara and Awa-Ijebu forests. The police have since recovered their remains, bringing some closure to their grieving families.
The suspects paraded at the press conference included Chukwuma Bartholomew (40), Igwe Monday (42), Ifeanyi Mathias (31), Anayo Simeon (28), Ayo Adedayo (46), Chibueze Odah (41), Ejiofor Nwali (35), Eke Peter (22), Monday Paul (24), and Chukwuma Zainab (37). The Commissioner of Police revealed that these suspects had all made confessional statements and would be charged in court for their heinous crimes.
Exhibits recovered during the investigation by the Police included a blue Tecno Camon phone and three expended cartridges, further solidifying the evidence against the gang.
The Commissioner concluded the briefing by commending the efforts of the Ogun State Police Command in bringing these criminals to justice and reiterated the commitment of the Command to ensuring the safety and security of the citizens of Ogun State.
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