On Wednesday, the Nigerian police said three suspects were detained as part of inquiries into the abduction of the former health minister’s son, Isaac Adewole.
Dayo Adewole was abducted Tuesday in Iroko, a suburb of Ibadan, the capital of the state of Oyo, by unidentified gunmen. The victim was kidnapped at about 6.30 p.m. on his farm on Tuesday.
Police previously on Wednesday said the vehicle used to kidnap the younger Adewole had been retrieved.
According to Leye Oyebade, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11 comprising Oyo, Osun, and Ondo, while briefing reporters on Wednesday, said that three people were detained.
The suspects arrested include Gbenga Ogunleye, the victim’s driver who was hired a few days earlier; Sodiq Adebayo, the farmer’s manager ; and another employee on the farm.
Mr. Oyebade and the state police commissioner, Shina Olukolu, toured the farm and the point where the victim’s vehicle was dropped near Aba Ode Junction around the village of Amosun.
Mr Oyebade said the kidnappers ‘ manhunt was initiated by the police. He guaranteed the public that he would rescue the victim.
“Actually, this incident is very unfortunate because it is coming after we have been able to map out a lot of strategies to address the challenge we are facing by these undesirable elements.”
“From our inspection of the scene, interaction and interrogation of the workers, and those that were present at the scene, we can say that the modus is changing, the tactic is changing, and their way of operating is changing.
“Since they now know that we have been able to cover the roads, they are now coming to isolated areas, looking for targets that can be approached, having monitored them.
“With what we gathered here, the suspects covered their faces and the story that is being given, we are not ruling out the involvement of those that are very close, in this particular situation. But whatever it is, we are going to unmask those that are behind this, and that is the assurance I am giving to members of the public,” he said.
