The suspect, identified as Muhammed Abubakar from Kwara State, was arrested at a community near Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
The spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was arrested after a failed attempt to kidnap occupants of a house in the community.
Ikoedem said the suspected notorious kidnapper has been handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit of the Command for investigation and prosecution.
She added that the suspect and his accomplices, who were heavily armed, reportedly stormed a house in the community around 6 a.m., attempting to kidnap the occupants.
According to her, the suspect and his accomplices, upon reaching the house, fired sporadic gunshots to scare residents and were forcing the iron door open when some residents made a distress call to security agents, who promptly stormed the area.
“The suspected kidnappers, on sighting the police, took to their heels and escaped into the bush, but Muhammed was arrested during bush combing while others escaped,” she said.
The Command’s image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has directed all Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to always remain alert in checking crime waves in the state.
The suspect, who confessed to the crime during an interview, claimed to be a herder from Kwara State but currently in Edo State for kidnapping purposes.
