Osun Govt Confirms Arrest of Head of Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of Moses Lohor, the Head of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state, along with members of his team for attempted murder.

This development was confirmed by Samuel Ojo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, in a statement issued by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for Governor Adeleke.

The statement followed a closed-door meeting between the Governor and the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba.

Crisis erupted after operatives of the Osun State Police Command Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by Moses Lohor, allegedly shot Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, the Chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System, on Monday night.

The police alleged that Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle was shot after attempting to escape arrest when a pistol and ammunition were reportedly found in his car.

However, the state government, in a statement on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the shooting as an alleged case of murder.

The statement said on Wednesday said, “Moses Lohor had shot Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station after his arrest over a domestic brawl with a neighbor. The park chairman is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.”

Ojo stated that the police authorities condemned Moses Lohor’s conduct, describing it as unprofessional, illegal, unauthorized, and in violation of the operational code.

He also mentioned that Moses Lohor and his team had been transferred to Abuja earlier this morning.

“We can confirm that the police authorities at the highest level have acted decisively on this matter. A clear punitive directive was issued by the IG. Mr Governor has directed we follow up to ensure that justice is served.”