Oyo state Police command have arrested a 38-year-old Lagos – Warri bound driver over an alleged attempt to kidnap five persons with his Sienna SUV in Ibadan.

The suspected kidnapper, identified as Emekume Augustine was arrested along Odo-Ona Elewe area, Ibadan while attempting to escape with the five victims.

Blueprint learnt that the passengers who comprised of 3 males and 2 females set out for the journey with the driver only for 3 of the passengers to slept off few minutes after the vehicle departed the Lagos park.

The driver not knowing that two of the passengers were not sleeping suddenly headed for Ibadan instead of Ijebu Ode – Sagamu – Ore end of Lagos – Ibadan express way thinking that all his passengers are fast sleeping.

Trouble however, started when one of the two passengers raised alarm by asking the driver why are they in Ibadan instead of Warri.
The driver on sensing the looming dangers ahead zoomed off driving recklessly, a situation which forced the passengers to be shouting for help which attracted passers by that pursued and apprehended the driver.

Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Adewale Osifeso in a statement at the weekend said the suspected kidnapper, a staffed of Dominion Park Management Lagos state, driving a white coloured Sienna was said to have picked the five passengers, from the park with the promise of traveling to Warri in Delta state.

DSP Osifeso stated, “on 29th June, 2021 at about 1200hrs, precedent distress call received from a concerned citizen about a suspected abduction incidence which lead to the arrest of one Emekume Augustine ‘m’ age 38 years a commercial driver, staffed at Dominion Park Management Lagos State, driving a white coloured Sienna SUV, with Reg. No. GGE 61 GX, who left the park with three (3) male and two (2) female passengers supposedly en route Warri, Delta State”, he said.

The PPRO added, ” the victims however attested to have all slept off at some point and surprisingly woke-up to the discovery that they were in an unknown location in Oyo State, from where they started raising an alarm, demanding an explanation from the driver which resulted to the driver driving recklessly as against stopping.”

” Upon receipt of this information, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command in collaboration with other alerted citizens, gave the vehicle a hot chase resulting to the arrest of the suspect and rescue of the victims along Odo-Ona Elewe Area, Ibadan.”.

DSP Osifeso said ” intensive investigation has since commenced and promises to be fact revealing” on the case.