The Police Kwara Police Command said the reported discovery of kidnappers’ den in Oko-Erin area of Ilorin; the Kwara state capital was totally not true.
The Kwara state PPRO, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi in a statement on Sunday February 23, 2020 shed some light on the issue and the sequence of events that gave birth to the insinuations.
‘’The attention of the Kwara State Police Command has been drawn to the false story alleging that kidnappers’ den was uncovered in Ilorin. This story has been in circulation especially on social media in the past few days.
“The Command wishes to correct the distortion in the story and set the record straight.
The fact of the case is that, on the 21st of February 2020, information was received from members of the Oko Erin community that there was a group of people suspected to be kidnappers in their community.
“The basis of this information was that one Wahab Rukayat ‘F’ aged 16yrs, who was sent on an errand by her mother was said to have gone missing.
“In the course of 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 sharing flyers and giving training to
prospective marketers who showed interest in the business.
“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 the ‘B’ Division, Surulere promptly moved to the scene where a large crowd had already gathered .
“The people in the house who were alleged to be kidnappers were immediately taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Surulere along with the purported victim.
“Investigations, however 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 the consequent events. The matter has therefore been resolved. It is in the light of this that we are advising members of the public to disregard the said story.
“The Commissioner of Police Kwara State Command, Ag CP Kayode Egbetokun hereby assures everyone that the Police will continue to carry out its duties to maximum capacity in ensuring that Kwara State remains safe for people to live, work and visit.
“While assuring law-abiding citizens of their safety in the course of their day-to-day endeavours, criminally-minded individuals or groups are warned to desist from crime and any other activities likely to disturb the peace of the State or leave the state.
“Social media platforms are equally advised to at all times verify their stories before going public. The Command appreciates the people of Kwara state for their support and the commitment being shown to the philosophy of community policing in the state’ he stated.”
