The Ondo State Police Command says it has arrested 12 suspects allegedly involved in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, cultism, and vandalism, across the state.
It also announced the arrest of some suspects reportedly working as informants for kidnappers who have been terrorizing residents in recent times.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Akure on Tuesday, vowed to rid the state of criminals.
Afolabi disclosed that “On February 24, 2025, a combined effort by the police and local vigilantes in Owo led to the arrest of one Abdullahi Mallam Bala, 21, who was found alone in the bush without any reasonable explanation.
“Further investigations revealed that he is part of a kidnapping syndicate linked to a notorious suspect, Ibrahim Dan Alh Umaru, who was arrested earlier in the year.”
Similarly, on February 22, operatives of the police Special Squad arrested one Komolafe Sunday, aka Veego, 39, who allegedly worked as a motorcyclist for kidnappers, supplying food to victims and spying on road movements.
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Sunday’s confession led the police to Akunu-Akoko, where two more suspects, Umaru Abubakar Sanda and Yusuf Ahmadu, were arrested.
Abubakar reportedly admitted to guarding kidnap victims in the forest.
Further investigation also led to the arrest of another motorcyclist, Lekan Temitope, alias Legelege, for his alleged involvement in aiding kidnappers.
“In another operation on March 14, 2025, the police, through coordinated intelligence-led policing, arrested Ridwan Salisu, 45, and Umar Isyaku, 19, at Ipele in connection with a kidnapping case.
“A sum of ₦3,614,000 was found in their possession. Salisu claimed the money was meant for a POS business, but investigations are ongoing to determine if it was ransom money,” Afolabi added.
The police boss further revealed that four suspected cultists were arrested following a raid by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Ondo town.
The suspects, identified as Awosika Babajide (Eiye Confraternity), Michael Peter (Eiye), Kunle Akinwande (Aveh), and Akintemi Akinwunmiju (Aveh), reportedly confessed to being cult members.
“To curb cult-related violence, the command launched a series of raids on hideouts in Ondo town on March 15, leading to their arrest,” Afolabi said.
In another development, a suspected vandal, Samuel Friday, was apprehended by residents while attempting to steal from a transformer in the Ilu-Abo, Ogbese area.
“During interrogation, Friday confessed to vandalizing transformers since 2016 and admitted to being jailed three times before his release in 2018.
“He also revealed that he sells stolen electrical cables from uncompleted or abandoned buildings to one Alhaji Abubakar, alias Abu Shisha, and another suspect, Alhaji Sheu Sabo, both residing in Akure,” the CP disclosed, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest the receivers.
Additionally, the midnight patrol team at Adinlewa arrested one Iyanu John, who specializes in stealing and destroying public infrastructure.
The suspect was caught with two stolen solar panels and taken into custody.
Afolabi assured that all suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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