The Kogi State Police Command says it has arrested one Ibrahim, a core member of the criminal network of a notorious bandit kingpin known as Batijo, who ordered the invasion of Ayegunle Community.
This police say mark a significant operational successes in the ongoing efforts to apprehend perpetrators of the coordinated bandit attack on Ayegunle Community along Obajana-Kabba Road in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi state.
The Kogi State Police Command also confirms that about thirty persons were abducted during the attack, comprising residents of Ayegunle community and passengers travelling on the affected commercial buses.
A statement by the the Command’s Public Relation Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat states that preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was masterminded by a notorious bandit kingpin known as Batijo, who ordered the invasion of Ayegunle Community. It adds intelligence gathered so far indicates that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the arrest of some associates of the gang leader.
The traditional ruler of Ayegunle Community, Oba Sunday Omodamori, was the principal target of the attack, as the hoodlums had planned to abduct him. However, the criminals failed in their objective as he was not in his residence at the time of the invasion.
The hoodlums subsequently ransacked parts of the community and abducted three residents, namely Ojo Abiodun, Bunmi Sunday, and Chief James Obayomi. Sadly, Chief James Obayomi was later killed by the criminals while attempting to escape from captivity, but the other victims remain in captivity.
The criminals thereafter proceeded to the Kabba–Obajana Road, where they blocked the highway and opened fire on moving vehicles in an attempt to force motorists to stop. During the attack, they forcefully stopped a container truck and shot the driver in both legs.
