The Ogun State Police Command has detained two suspected kidnappers, Umoru Mohammed and Audu Mohammed, for the abduction and murder of 15-year-old Muazu Tombata in the Abule Oje village, located in the Imala area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area.
The tragic incident began when Muazu was reportedly kidnapped while tending to his father’s cows alongside four other children. According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omolola Odutola, the four other children returned to the community, but Muazu was missing, sparking concerns.
A few days after his disappearance, the abductors contacted the boy’s family, demanding a ransom of N500,000. The ransom was paid, but Muazu was not released.
Worried by the lack of progress, a community leader reported the case to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Imala, who led a search for the missing teenager. On September 6, the same community leader received instructions from the kidnappers, directing him to a riverside in the Oje forest. Upon arrival, police discovered Muazu’s lifeless body, his neck bound and brutally slaughtered.
Further investigation into the mobile number used by the kidnappers led police to the suspects, who were arrested on September 7 at Kara Market in Olodo. Both men reportedly confessed to demanding ransom from the victim’s family and are now cooperating with authorities to track down other accomplices.
PPRO Odutola reiterated the commitment of the Ogun State Police Command to curb kidnapping activities and bring all perpetrators to justice. Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has also assured residents that the menace of kidnapping will be tackled under his leadership.
