- Safiu Kehinde
Members of the Landlords Association in Lakoun Community where kidnapped sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was rescued alongside her twin sons have opened up on the presence of the kidnappers in the residence.
NPO Reported that the police had on Saturday stormed the community located in Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The police operatives had in the raid discovered the house where Adelabu’s sister, Mrs. Busayo John-Paul, and her twin sons were held captive by their abductors.
Following the rescue mission, the Oyo state government ordered the demolition of the house.
Meanwhile, the development had left many residents of the community in shock with the members of the landlords’ association opening up on the presence of the kidnappers in their community.
Matthew Olaiya, the association’s Vice President, disclosed to newsmen that the suspected kidnappers recently moved in to the community barely two months ago.
Olaiya said the house was sold by its owner to someone else who leased it out to the suspects.
“It is not up to one month that they came to rent the house and we collected his papers.
“The person who owns the house is a woman and she already sold to house to someone else. It was the person she sold the house to that rented it out.” He said.
On the movement of the suspects withing the community, Olaiya said they only come around once in two days and often arrive late night.
He claimed that they were unaware of when they brought the victims to the house which, according to him, is usually deserted.
“We suspected that if they come home today, we won’t see them tomorrow. We have vigilantes surveilling the community.
“They will put on their compound lights today but switch them off tomorrow. We only noticed that the place is always quiet.
“However, we didn’t notice when they brought the victims because they don’t usually come during daytime.
“We are all surprised and scared about how they brought the victims into the community.” He said.
Another landlord whose name was not disclosed said the suspected kidnappers often attend the Community Development Area (CDA) meeting.
He claimed that the CDA never knew their occupation as they were tenants who rented the house from a caretaker.
“We don’t know what they do but they always attend our meeting and we give them form. It was a caretaker that brought them.
“They rented the house. They just moved in about two to three months ago.
“The owner of the house is not living here with us. He only built the house here and gave it to a caretaker. I met the owner of the house here when I moved in.” He said.
NPO Reported that two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised during the rescue operation with four other suspects arrested.