Ondo police deny complexity in the abduction of kidnap victims

THE Police authorities in Ondo State on Tuesday denied any complexity in the kidnap and release of the three people kidnapped along Lagos-Ore expressway last week.

Speaking on the development, the State Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, described an online report alleging the command of complexity in the kidnap as unfounded, ridiculous and misrepresentation of facts.

According to the Police boss, there was no iota of truth in the report, saying the report was designed to smear the image of the police in the state.

He explained that the three men kidnapped by the hoodlums last week regained their freedom after detectives from the state invaded the kidnappers’ hideout along Lagos – Ore road, with some local vigilante who collaborated with the detectives to smoke out the kidnappers.

The kidnappers who killed one Oluwafemi Komolafe and abducted three other persons which included, the deceased 18-year-old son,  Timilehin Komolafe, Henry Usifo and Micheal Popoola.

He said the three people abducted by the kidnappers were released unhurt while some of the abductors who engaged the police in a shootout escaped with a gunshot, saying his men had been working round the clock to arrest the kidnappers.

Similarly, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in the state, Rev Ayo Oladapo and the Director of information of Catholic Church, in the state, Leo Arogundade, disowned the information, saying the story does not emanate from the Church.

Oladapo said “my attention was drawn to the report and I called to confirm from the Catholic Secretariat, urging them to investigate but I was told the story was not from the Catholic Church office as claimed by the writer.

“I also called Bishop Jude Arogundade, who said he was aware of the kidnap but said the kidnappers had nothing to do with the Catholic. So I can confirm to you that both CAN and the Catholic Church has no hand in this report and the report does not emanate from us.”

The Catholic Director of Communication, Leo Aregbesola, also said the report was not from the Church office, saying the Church has reacted and reported the issue to the security agencies in the state.

He said, “we have reported to the appropriate quarters and have started our own side of the story.”