The Kwara Police Command has rescued one Vonapolouis Moss, an American citizen who was lured into Nigeria by one Awoleye Joshua Oluwatofunmi of Sabo-Oke Road, Ilorin, within the premises of a hotel along Flower Garden Road, Ilorin.
Kwara State Police Commissioner, CP Paul Odama disclosed this while addressing the media on Friday in Ilorin.
“On January 12, 2023, at about 1200 hrs, based on actionable intelligence, operatives of the SCID at the Kwara State Police Command arrested one Awoleye Joshua Oluwatofunmi, “m,” of Sabo- Oke Road, Ilorin, within the premises of a hotel along Flower Garden Road, Ilorin, in company with one Vonapolouis Moss, “f,” an American citizen,” he stated.
CP Paul Odama said A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who is an Internet fraudster known as Yahoo Boys, presented himself to the victim on TikTok, a social media platform, as an American by the name of Howard Adams and ripped her off for about 1000 USD.
“The suspect later took a step further by luring the victim to fly into Nigeria on January 9, 2023, through the Muritala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, after which she flew into Ilorin the next day and was received by the suspect. The suspect also deceitfully took an unspecified amount of USD from the victim before she was rescued by police operatives, he stated.
He said that necessary authorities have been contacted for appropriate action. Meanwhile, the rescued victim has been moved into secure custody by the State Police Command pending her return trip to the USA.
In other news, the CP said within the period under review, one confessed kidnapper was arrested around the Kambi area of Jebba Road by the name of Issa Naigbeti, who conspired with two others at large to kidnap his father, by the name of Bature Naigboho, around the Igbeti and Okeho areas of Oyo State, and collected the sum of N2.5million as well as some other items.
“One Alhaji Tunde Buhari “m” and Mallam Ridman Meco “m” were equally kidnapped in the Oluwalose community of Okolowo on 10/1/2023; both have been successfully rescued and handed over to their families, while efforts are still ongoing to arrest the kidnappers, he stated.
The CP stated that policemen on routine patrol around Share Avenue saw and flagged down a motorcycle. The rider jumped down and ran into the bush, a search conducted in the back tied to his motorcycle revealed two Ak-47 rifles, seven magazines, fifty-six live rounds, and the sum of $255,000. Efforts are ongoing to fish out the suspect because he is likely conveying the weapons for a kidnapping adventure.
“Another highly volatile issue that came up in the week was the menace of illegal miners around Edu/Patigi LGA of Kwara State, which has needs.
He, however, said that as a serious and wholesale solution, the command has deployed men to the area to stop the movement and all illegal operations going on there.
