Ondo State Police Command has apprehended four individuals suspected of being involved in a kidnapping operation connected to a deadly attack that occurred earlier this year in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that police authorities said the suspects were linked to an incident that took place in January along Liberty Avenue in the Ilu-Abo area, where gunmen reportedly attacked residents.
During the assault, a man identified as John Ofuduwa lost his life, while another victim, Oladeinde Tomilola, was abducted by the attackers. The abducted victim was later released after spending time in captivity.
Abayomi Jimoh, spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, disclosed in a statement on Friday that the suspects were tracked down through intelligence gathering and arrested during a joint operation involving police operatives and members of the Amotekun Corps in the state capital, Akure.
According to the police, the suspects were located in a hotel in Akure where they had been hiding before security operatives moved in and arrested them.
“The intelligence-driven operation led to the arrest of four suspects identified as Abdullahi Ismaila (20), Babanyara Japi (25), Babuga Abubakar (25), and Adama Usman (15),” the statement reads.
Officers reportedly recovered N1,400,000 from the suspects during the operation, which investigators believe may be part of ransom money obtained from their kidnapping activities. The money has since been seized by the police and kept as evidence.
Police authorities said the suspects have admitted their involvement in the crime during interrogation, adding that the victim who was abducted also identified them as those responsible for the attack.
Security officials noted that the arrests form part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies in Ondo State to combat kidnapping and violent crimes, which have become a growing concern in parts of the state and neighbouring regions.
Jimoh said the police have launched a broader investigation to uncover the full scope of the suspects’ criminal activities, including possible links to other kidnapping or armed robbery cases reported in the state.
He added that efforts are underway to locate and arrest other members of the suspected criminal network while investigators work to determine whether the group has been involved in additional kidnapping incidents across Ondo and surrounding areas.
