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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A former employee of the maker of a local balm, popularly known as ‘Ero Arike,’ identified as Basiru and two others have been arrested by men of the Osun State Police Command, while planning to abduct the company owner, Falilat Oyetunji.
It was gathered that Basiru and his accomplices were planning to abduct Oyetunji in Olorunda village in Iragbiji, Osun State.
An informant who got wind of the plot by Basiru and others to abduct Oyetunji informed the victim, and business woman reported the matter to the police.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the spokesperson for Osun State police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said: “Upon intelligence, three kidnappers, were arrested while trying to kidnap Falilat Oyetunji, a.k.a “ERO ARIKE” in her residence of Olorunda Temidire area, Iragbiji.
“It was on the early hours of Saturday, 6th August, 2022 that an informant, (name withheld) came to inform Mrs Oyetunji, ERO ARIKE, that he saw some people, led by the former staff of her ERO ARIKE company, one Basiru, planning how to kidnap her.
“Then, Oyetunji came to inform the police about it. The Police operatives of the anti kidnapping squad Osogbo were detailed for the assignment and the surveillance was emplaced.
“The informant was asked to play along with the kidnappers. When fine-tuning their plan, men from anti kidnapping squad swung into action and nabbed the three suspects, while their driver disappeared with the vehicle they brought for the operation.”
According to Opalola, exhibits recovered from the suspects include two dane guns, one long knife, one jack knife.
She added that one of the suspects, Basiru, attempted suicide after he was caught but was rescued and taking to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment.