Suspense As Kidnappers Free ‘Kogerun’ Amidst Cloudy Ransom Payment Process

Suspense As Kidnappers Free ‘Kogerun’ Amidst Cloudy Ransom Payment Process

The residents of Iseyin in Iseyin local government of Oyo State were thrown into confusion on Wednesday when they learnt of the release of the kidnapped businessman, Alhaji Wamod, who is popularly called ‘Kogerun’ without prior information about how the kidnappers contacted his family and how much was paid as ransom.

Wamod was snatched on Saturday evening at his residence at Alobalowo Estate along Iseyin-Ipapo road and until his release on Tuesday evening, his relatives and security operatives in the community did not give information to the general public about what transpired during the process of kidnap and release.

A vehicle mechanic and an apprentice of the popular building materials merchant, Alhaji Wamod were killed as kidnappers in the process of the kidnap.

A close source from the Nigerian Police, Oyo State Command, Eleyele in Ibadan told The Chronicler Newspaper that reports from Iseyin Divisional Police Headquarter, indicates that stray bullet hit the yet to be identified vehicle mechanic, who later died on Sunday, but an apprentice of the kidnapped trader was shot when he beamed his motorcycle’s full light on the gang at the entrance of the victim’s house.

Mr. Sulaimon Adejare who spoke with our correspondence on Thursday from Oremoje area of the town said ‘we just heard this morning that he has been freed, everyone was panicky, expecting to hear news that the kidnappers have called his family and have asked for a certain amount, but we did not hear anything till we started hearing that he is freed.

“Although this is good news but when such happens, it throws darkness to what ought to be clear about the amount that was paid as ransom and how much was eventually paid, so that people can have the information, especially the security agents.

Alhaja Khadijat Osuolale, an indigene of Iseyin who is based at Ibadan challenged the security agencies to relay all that transpired between the kidnappers and the family of the victim to the general public so that people will not be kept in the dark on the issue.

“The security agencies, especially the police cannot say they do not have information about all that happened before his release, why are they keeping mom on the issue, they suppose to let the general public know about how much was collected, if ransom was paid.”

To someone like Samuel Ojo, a student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), the kidnap case as well as the report of successful robbery incidents in the community pointed to lack of capacity by the police and Amotekun personnel to tackle crime.

He challenged the various security agencies in the community like police, the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Amotekun, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Operation Burst outfit to engage in routine patrol of major areas that could be described as ‘red spots’ in the community instead of always being found at road blocks, collecting money from motorists.