By The Osun State Police Command has arrested Babangida Muhammed over an alleged attempt to extort N13 million from a victim under threat of kidnapping him and his family, after a sting operation caught the suspect collecting the ransom money at a roadside meeting point.
The Threats
According to a press release issued Wednesday by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the case began when the complainant reported receiving threatening phone calls from an unknown caller identifying himself as Babangida Muhammed. The caller allegedly demanded thirteen million naira, threatening to kidnap the complainant and members of his family if the money was not paid.
A Planned Sting
Once the complaint was received, operatives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, Team H, began intelligence gathering under the direction of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Zungura and put together an operation to catch the suspect in the act. As part of the plan, a meeting point was fixed at Telemu, along the Iwo-Ibadan Road, the location the suspect himself had directed the complainant to bring the money.
On September 4, at around 2pm, the complainant went to the agreed location carrying the money as instructed. Shortly after, the suspect arrived, picked up the box containing the cash, and attempted to flee into nearby bush, at which point police operatives who had been positioned covertly emerged and arrested him before he could escape.
What Happens Next
The suspect remains in police custody as investigators work to establish whether anyone else was involved in the alleged scheme. Police said he will be formally charged once the investigation is complete.
Police Response
Commissioner Zungura commended the operatives involved for their professionalism, courage and intelligence led approach to the operation, and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and tackling kidnapping and other crime across Osun State. The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity or threats promptly to the nearest police station.
