On Tuesday, it was revealed that the children and members of staff of the Nigerian Turkish International school Ogun State, who were kidnapped on 13th January, 2017, have regained their freedom. One of the parents told Channels TV that ransom worth millions was paid through a negotiator and the gunmen gave the assurance that the victims would be released.
The Police have now confirmed the arrest of the notorious kidnappers responsible for the act and also the recovery of 1.2 million Naira ransom money. The statement read:
"The IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), working in synergy with the Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Nigeria Police Force in a joint operation supervised by AIG Kayode Aderanti, AIG Zone 2, Lagos successfully smashed a notorious kidnap gang and arrested four (4) vicious kidnappers who are active members of the gang responsible for the kidnap for ransom. They are: Bekewei Agbojule, aka “Prince Yellow”, Are Philip Joel Kakadu, aka “General Kakadu,” a militant leader, Romeo Council, aka “Raw” and Totki Okoda.
"The last suspect, Totki Okoda is said to reside in the creeks behind the school at the Ijaw fishermen settlement and is responsible for providing information to the gang about the school and the victims.
"In the course of investigation into the dastardly crime, three suspects namely Are Philip Joel Kakadu aka “General Kakadu” a militant leader; Romeo Council aka “Raw” and Totki Okoda who lives in the fishermen’s community behind the school and provided information about the victims to his gang, were trailed and arrested at different locations in Delta, Ogun and Lagos States respectively, for the criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
"Further investigation and sustained pursuit of the matter by the Intelligence Response Team, led to the arrest of Bekewei Agbojule aka “Prince Yellow”, a principal suspect and one of the key members of the gang on the 25th January, 2017, at about 0700hrs in the morning.
"The suspect who is an Ijaw from Arogbo town in Ondo State was arrested after he came out of the creeks to enjoy his loot.
"One million two hundred thousand naira (#1,200,000) his share of the ransom money was recovered from him. The four suspects confessed to the crime, volunteered useful statements to the investigators and are cooperating with the Police. Concerted efforts are being made to arrest the remaining suspects who are at large. All the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation."