Richard Ginika Izuora
The Kwara State Police Command has denied news over a kidnappers den in Ilorin; the state capital.
The Police was reacting to recent social speculations that residents uncovered a kidnappers den at Oko-Erin Community in Ilorin.
The reaction was contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO); DSP Ajayi Okasanmi and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, explained that the 12 victims; who they allegedly rescued in the hands of suspected kidnappers in the area denied the abduction.
According to the statement, the victims were aged between 16 and 30 years.
Further, Egbetokun said that the alleged victims, in their separate statements; confirmed to the police that they weren’t kidnapped.
Nevertheless, the statement confirmed that the Police had earlier received information from the residents of Oko Erin community; that there was a group of people suspected to be kidnappers in their area.
“The precedence to this information is that one Rukayat Wahab; who was said to have been missing when she was sent on an errand by her mother.
“And in the course of her mother searching for her, she was found in the company of the said group of people; who explained that they were networking marketers of GNLD products.
“The alarm raised by her mother in the course of these events, attracted the attention of many persons; from whom the story of the people being suspected kidnappers, emanated.
“On receipt of the information at the police station, detectives from ‘B’ Division, Surulere; promptly moved to the scene, which was the house of the suspected kidnappers.
“The suspects were immediately taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Surulere; along with the purported victims of the said kidnap.
“However, the investigations revealed that the people were, in fact, marketers of the popular GNLD brand; who were carrying out networking training for interested members of the public.
“The said Rukayat had, on collecting one of their marketing flyers; abandoned her errand and joined the training exercise.
“This led to her mother’s assumption that she was missing; and the ensuing misunderstanding and consequent events.
“The matter has therefore been resolved,” the statement read in part.
Meanwhile, Egbetokun assured that the Police would continue to carry out its duties to maximum capacity; in ensuring that the state remains safe for people to live, work and visit.
According to him, social media platforms were equally advised to verify their stories all the time before going public.
He commended the people of the state for their support; and the commitment to the philosophy of community policing in the state.