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Ondo Police Boss Vows To Tackle Kidnapping, Launches Anti-Kidnapping Squad

Kidnapping has become a growing business for criminals who use the State’s thick forests for cover. SaharaReporters has learned that unknown gunmen have abducted no fewer than seven people in the past few months in Ondo State.

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The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Thursday says it is ready to fight its increasing number of kidnapping cases, Police Commissioner Isaac Eke said in an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters in Akure, the State capital.

Mr. Eke, who expressed disgust at the rate of kidnapping in the country, said the command has already put modalities in place to ensure kidnapping is reduced to the barest minimum. “We will fight kidnapping with our full strength,” he declared.

Kidnapping has become a growing business for criminals who use the State’s thick forests for cover. SaharaReporters has learned that unknown gunmen have abducted no fewer than seven people in the past few months in Ondo State.

The gunmen are suspected to be fugitives who broke out of Ado Ekiti Prison in Ekiti State a few months ago. They forced families of their victims to pay hefty ransoms before they are set free.

The kidnappers operate in a “ring of network” and share information from Delta, Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Kwara state.                

Mr. Eke disclosed that part of the strategy to fight the kidnapping epidemic is launching the “Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad” which is located on the Alagbaka axis of the state capital.

“The Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad is among the specialized branches that deals with specific cases of crimes in the society. Just like we have the department of the Special Anti-robbery Squad, Anti-Cultism Squad in the state

“This Squad particularly focus on kidnapping cases. Wherever, there is reported cases of kidnapping, it is the function of the squad to deal squarely with it and achieve a good result and successes”, he said.

He explained that the squad, which is a wing under his command, is being manned by duly trained and intelligent police officers to curb the incessant rate of kidnapping.

Eke also said that the force already instituted an emergency against the fight of kidnapping in both in the state and its boundaries.

Apart from kidnapping, Eke identified cultism, armed robbery, and rape as the most prevalent crimes plaguing the state.

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CRIME