Four men have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, for allegedly kidnapping a 60-year-old man, Tijani Aremu, as well as attempting to kill a woman.
The defendants, Yahaya Galejo, 30; Ismail Illa, 20; Muhammadu Usman, 25; and Muhammed Idrisa, 27, were accused of committing the crime in Akoko axis, northern senatorial district of the state.
With the suspects charged with a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, attempted unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful gathering, the police prosecutor, Sulieman Adebayo, told the court that the defendants, along with others at large, committed the alleged offences on August 17, 2025, around 4:00 PM at Ikuiye Awara Farm, Akoko.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants, who were armed with a short single-barrelled gun, a dagger, and other dangerous weapons, conspired to abduct Aremu, whom they took to an undisclosed location after he was kidnapped.
Adebayo, who further informed the court that the defendants unlawfully held the victim for two days, after which they coerced his family into paying a ransom for his release
With the suspects also alleged to have, on the same date and location, attempted to kill a woman, Omolayo Aremu, by locking her in a reservoir tank, the prosecutor stated that they failed to give a satisfactory explanation of how they came about the dangerous weapons in their possession.
The charges preferred against them contravene Sections 6(b) and 2(a and b) (b) of the Anti-Abduction and Anti-Kidnapping Act, Law of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2010, as well as Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Cap. R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024, and Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ondo State, 2006.
While urging the court to remand the suspects at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), their counsel prayed for an adjournment to enable him to file a counter-affidavit in response to the application, following the rejection of the defendants’ pleas.
The magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded to police custody and adjourned the case until September 18, pending a ruling on the remand application.
