Anisulowo: IGP wades in, dispatches crack detectives to Ogun
…As Ogun Command begins forensic investigation
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NIGERIA: THE Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has waded into the rescue mission of the abducted former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabode Anisulowo.
The police topmost boss has dispatched special teams of crack detectives to join other teams in Ilaro, Ogun State to rescue Anisulowo, who represented Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007.
“The Command detectives are also presently working with other security agencies and special teams from the office of The Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja to rescue Senator Iyabo Anisulowo without delay,” Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a release on Friday.
The IGP move is in conjunction with the Ogun State Police Command which has commenced forensic investigation into the Wednesday kidnap of the former Minister following the recovery of the her car and some other personal items.
In this regard, the State Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, and some other senior officers of the command have relocated to Ilaro for the rescue mission.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said further in a press release made available to GatewayMail on Friday, that the police high command was fully prepared to free for Anisulowo, a one-time governorship aspirant of the All Peoples Party (APP) in the Gateway State.
The police image maker also assured that the perpetrators of the crime would definitely be apprehended within a short period of time.
He explained: “The command wishes to inform the general public that the police have some clues as the Toyota SUV of the victim, with Reg No Lagos LSD 115 AM, and some items have been recovered, and this will definitely catalyze the forensic investigation into the matter and immediate rescue of the victim.”
Adejobi further explained that Ali, his deputy in charge of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence,
assistant Commissioner of Police in care of Operations, officers in charge of Special Anti-Robbery and the Kidnapping Squads, officers and men of the State Intelligence Bureau and Police Mobile Force, ICT experts are working collaboratively to rescue the victim and nab the kidnappers.
He also said: “In addition, in the spirit of adequate supervision, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Bala Hassan, visited the scene of crime on Thursday and met with the officers and men detailed for the operations on the adopted strategies.”
“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Abdulmajid Ali, therefore appeals to the general public to be patient and remain calm as the rescue operation will be a success and that the command will, by all means, tackle any crimes or violent crimes in Ogun State,” Adejobi further said.
And on Thursday, the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun vowed that the abductors of Anisulowo would regret their action.
Amosun, who promised to ensure Anisulowo return safely soon, said that the government and security agencies would ensure that the state remains a no-go area for kidnapers.
“We are ready for the abductors and they will regret what they have done. Ogun State will never be a comfort zone for criminals,” the Governor said.
The assurance of Amosun came at the time men of the Nigeria Police Force, led by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Bala Hassan, members of the vigilance group, hunters and local farmers begun frantic search for the kidnappers of the former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabode Anisulowo.
Anisulowo’s whereabouts remain unknown as at the time of filling this report, just as family members said that the abductors were yet to contact them or demand ransom.
Amosun, who was Anisulowo’s fellow colleague in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, assured that the kidnapped Senator would be rescued soon.
The Governor, who visited Anisulowo’s farm in Sawonjo, which is about 100 metres to the abduction spot, explained that strategies had commenced on how to free the Senator.
Amosun was accompanied during the visit by the state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, State Director, Department of Security Services and Commandant, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.
According to him, security officials had already been detailed promptly on how to ensure the speedy rescue of the former minister.
Amosun said: “The government is already interfacing with security officials and I can assure you that everyone here is involved including the local farmers, hunters and vigilante service.
“We will rescue her alive and bring her back safely and I believe that in a matter of hours, we will have cause to thank God over this incident.”
Hassan, however, described the abduction of Anisulowo as unfortunate and assured that the kidnappers would be arrested like those who recently abducted three secondary school girls in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Meanwhile, while narrating how Anisulowo was kidnapped, her driver, Wasiu Afonja, said that the abductors had laid siege to them in the bush beside the Igbogila main road.
Afonja explained that besides her boss, two other occupants were in the jeep as the kidnappers struck as they were returning from the Senator`s farm.
He stated that the four kidnappers dragged him and two others away from the car while they sped off with
Anisulowo.
The Commandant of the Vigilance Service in Yewa South Local Government, Mr. Zachaeus Oluyemi, expressed belief that the kidnappers were still within reach, just as the Senator’s younger brother, Kola Popoola, confirmed that the kidnappers were yet to talk to the family 24 hours after the abduction.
The victim’s husband, Mr. Aderemi Anisulowo, said that he was glad at the timely response of the state government on the dastardly act.
It would be recalled that the first woman Senator from Ogun West was abducted while heading towards Ilaro, her home town and headquarters of Yewa South Local Government, where she recently celebrated her 65th birthday.
She was abducted around 6pm, and the police responded immediately, saying that a five-team of detectives had been dispatched to track the kidnappers of the former Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Resources to ensure she regains her freedom.
Adejobi, who confirmed the abduction late Wednesday evening, however, told GatewayMail that the command was on top of the situation.
“The Ogun State police command is aware of the kidnapping of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo in Ilaro area today (Wednesday) around 6pm,” Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said in a statement.
“The Commissioner of Police Ogun State CP Abdulmajid Ali has detailed 5 teams to the area to rescue her unhurt,” the Police image maker stressed.
He added: “The special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti Kidnapping Squad Commanders have been sent to the area by the CP to rescue the senator and apprehend the perpetrators.”
“We have also embarked on scientific investigation of the matter,” the police image maker said, while giving assurance that the kidnapped top politician would be rescued, even as he urged residents of the state to give adequate support to the authority.
Adejobi stressed: “We, therefore, assure the general public, particularly the good people and government of Ogun State, that the kidnapped victim will be rescued very very soon unhurt.
“We appeal to Nigerians and people of Ogun State to support the police command with useful information to assist the police.”
