Operatives of Ondo police command have rescued 20 people held hostage by a Ponzi scheme syndicate in Oba-lle, Akure north LGA of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that while parading the suspects on Friday in Akure, Wilfred Afolabi, commissioner of police in the state, revealed that operatives arrested a suspect, Sakariya Sadia, in connection to the crime.
Afolabi noted that the victims were lured into joining the Ponzi scheme called ‘Quest International Company’ under false promises of making a profit.
He said the victims were later asked to pay
N1.5 million each, and recruit two other people as part of the requirements to join the group. Once involved, they were denied access to their relatives.
The statement reads, “On April 24, 2025, the command surveillance team swung into action, and through intelligence-led policing traced the people held hostage to a residence at Oba-lle in Akure.”
“During the operation, one Sakariya Sadia ‘m’ was discovered to be the prime suspect involved in the alleged criminal activities.”
“The operation also led to the rescue of 20 victims held hostage by the said suspect at the residence in Oba-lle, Akure, namely -Rafiu Kehinde; Adebayo Nafisat; Mohammed Aishat; Jesujuwon Osuntoki; Mustapha Gbolahan; ibukun Samuel; Gbolahan Wasiu; Aminu Ifasina; Mohammed Sheifff; Adebayo Rohemat; Saheed Ibrahim; Ibrahim Adebayo; Adebayo Sukurat; Olawoyi Wasilat; Sholagberu Shakirat; Adeyemi
Skukurat; Basari Saadiqa; Raji Taofeek.”
Afolabi added that the command also apprehended another suspect, Oyebode Oluwakemi for allegedly defrauding people of N250 million in the guise of securing them a government job.
The CP also revealed that operatives arrested two suspected armed robbers for stealing building materials and home appliances across the state.
He added that Ayodele Temitope, a suspect, was also arrested for a stealing vehicle in the state.
Afolabi said, “As a result of the dragnet spread across the state and the intensified manhunt, on April 28, 2025, detectives from the Special Enquiry Unit (SEU) Ondo State command, nabbed the suspect.”
“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the suspect had defrauded many people running to the tune of two hundred and fifty million naira (#250,000,000.00).”
“On the 15th of April, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) of the Command on a tip off arrested two (2) suspected armed robbers, namely, Dele Jacob ‘M’ aged 38yrs and Idowu Dada ‘M’ aged 35yrs, that specialized in stealing building materials and home appliances across the state.”
“The notable achievements recorded within the past months-ranging from the recovery of stolen vehicles, dismantling of armed robbery and burglary syndicates, busting of transnational fraud operations, arrests of cultists and kidnappers, to the rescue of victims held against their will-are a testament to our robust security strategies, intelligence-driven operations, and the dedication of our gallant officers and men.”
