The Ondo State Police Command made a significant breakthrough by arresting seven suspected kidnappers and rescuing a victim in operations conducted between February 13 and 15 in various locations across the state. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi, revealed this information to the press in Akure. The arrests were made possible through intelligence gathering and technical support, with the suspects ranging in age from 20 to 40 years old.
One of the suspects, Aminu, was apprehended at Akure Garage in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East Local Government Area. Following this arrest, another suspect named Abdullah Abubakar, aged 25, was also taken into custody. Additionally, four more suspects were captured by the tactical team between February 14 and 15, namely Yusuf Saidu, Nafiu Ibrahim, Mohammed Anas, and Kabiru Mohammed.
In a separate incident in Ipele, Owo local government, a woman was abducted from her home by unknown gunmen. Prompt action by the police and local youths led to the successful rescue of the woman and the recovery of an AK 49 rifle at the scene. Yusuf Suleiman, aged 27, was later arrested through intelligence-led policing in connection with the incident.
The Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad also apprehended a 40-year-old ex-convict, Ishaku Abdul, based on a tip-off, suspecting his involvement in recent criminal activities in the area after being recently released from a correctional center. These suspects had been on the police’s wanted list, according to Afolabi.
In a separate incident in January, three suspects were arrested for allegedly kidnapping 14 children in Ondo State. Additionally, seven travelers were abducted along the Benin-Owo-Akure Road in February, emphasizing the ongoing challenges of kidnapping in the region.