>
The Oyo State Police Command on Friday confirmed the arrest of a member of a kidnap syndicate that abducted Jumoke Babalola-Oludele,the younger sister of Majority Leader, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Sunkanmi Babalola.
Oludele was said to have been kidnapped on Monday at Oniguguru Junction, beside Lion of Judah Church,Iyana Church area of Ibadan, while returning from her shop.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr Nwachukwu Enwonwu, said that one of the suspected abductors had been arrested.
Enwonwu, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, said the suspected kidnapper is currently being interrogated to obtain useful information that could enable them to secure Babalola-Oludele’s release.
The statement read, ”One Jumoke Babalola-Oludele, female, aged 35, was kidnapped while returning from her shop by unknown armed men. One suspect was arrested after the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Oyo Police Command swung into action. The suspect is currently being quizzed to obtain useful information.
”Efforts are intensified to rescue the hostage and also to arrest the culprits. Further development shall unfold soonest.”
Babalola, representing Egbeda State Constituency in the House of Assembly, said apart from alerting the police, the family has launched a manhunt to rescue his sister from the kidnappers.
“I was not there when the incident happened. They called and told me that three gunmen kidnapped my sister. They forced her into a waiting car then drove away,” he said.
A source close to the family said that the abductors demanded for N20 million ransom to secure her release.