Police discover shallow graves of kidnapped victims in Ogun

Men of the Ogun state police command have uncovered the shallow graves used by some kidnappers to bury the bodies of 71-year-old farmer, Adekunle Ifelaja, and Ogunyemi Femi, who were allegedly kidnapped and killed by suspected kidnappers in the Ijebu-Igbo area of Ogun State.

The graves were uncovered following the confession of two members of a seven-person criminal gang, Chukwuma Bartholomew and Igwe Monday, who are believed to be responsible for the abductions and murders of the victims.

Confirming the discovery to Punch, the spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, said the arrest occurred just five days after the anti-kidnapping squad killed two suspected kidnappers in a gunfight and rescued several victims, including Indian nationals.

Regarding the exhumation of the deceased’s bodies, Odutola stated that the suspects, after confessing to the crime during interrogation, led the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, and the anti-kidnapping squad to the forest in Ijebu-Igbo.

“They are responsible for kidnappings and abductions that have been recorded in the Ijebu-Igbo area. They kidnapped their victims, demanded ransom from their family members, and then killed them. They then took them to a forest in Ijebu-Igbo, where they dug a shallow grave and buried them. They were arrested by our anti-kidnapping squad after a thorough investigation, which led the team to the hideouts of the criminals on June 28, 2024, in Ijebu-Igbo.

After their confession, the suspects took the CP and members of the anti-kidnapping units to the forest where they buried the victims to exhume the corpses.”