Ondo Police Command Arrests Kidnappers’ Currier, During Operation

By Ayodele Oni

Twelve suspects linked to alleged kidnappings, robberies and cultism have been arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed to newsmen at the weekend in Akure that the suspects were nabbed during various tactical operations embarked upon by the command.

While briefing Journalists, Afolabi disclosed that “In the early hours of Saturday, at approximately 0020hrs, a combined tactical team of operatives from the Ondo State Police Command and local hunters based in Ikare carried out a successful operation that led to the rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of one of the suspects involved in the abduction.

“The operation followed actionable intelligence regarding the movement of suspected kidnappers responsible for the abduction of one Ogunniyi Semiu ‘m’ on 14th May 2025, around Ikare Mine in Akoko North-East Local Government Area.

“Acting on the intelligence, the joint team strategically laid an ambush in a forest area near Supare Mine, believed to be a rendezvous point for the suspects who had demanded a ransom of ₦14 million.

“During the interception, the suspects engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel. In the exchange, several of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries, while one of them—Babuga Muhammed ‘m’, from Igana, Iseyin, Oyo State—was apprehended.

“Crucially, the victim, Ogunniyi Semiu, was rescued alive and unhurt. No ransom was paid.

“In a similar development Command also arrested three suspected Kidnappers who have confessed to their involvement in various kidnapping cases across the state.

“This operation marks yet another success in the Command’s ongoing offensive against kidnapping and violent crime in the state.

“Acting on credible intelligence regarding the activities of one Abubakar Bamoh, male, aged 30 years, an indigene of Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command swung into action and successfully apprehended the suspect at one of the Fulani camps in Igbara-Oke Mine, Ondo State.

“The suspect, Abubakar Bamoh, is alleged to be a major logistics provider for suspected kidnapping syndicates operating across state lines.

“Preliminary investigations and intelligence revealed that he played a significant role in providing logistical support in a kidnapping incident

that occurred in Osun State, in which the victim was abducted and subsequently held hostage in a forest located in Igbara-Oke Mine, Ondo State.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect volunteered a confessional statement and provided useful information regarding the operations of the syndicate.

“A search conducted at his premises led to the recovery of one Tecno mobile phone, suspected to have been used by the syndicate for communication, and a solar panel, allegedly used to power their devices in the forest.

“The Command has, within the past days made significant progress, on 15/5/2025 at about 0630hrs, the DPO ‘B’ Division Owo upon information received, led his operatives to arrest one Aliu Raymond ‘m’ aged 42yrs at Isuada in Owo.

“Suspect is a member of Eye Cult Group who has been terrorizing Isuada area and has been on Police Wanted List.

“He confessed to numerous crimes he has perpetrated including an attack on a commercial motorcycle rider on 14/5/2025 in Isuada and mentioned some other members of his group. Effort is ongoing to arrest other members of the said group and recover their weapons.

“Upon information received at Yaba Police Station on 14/5/2025 at about 2230hrs, that a motorcycle rider named Fasakin Isaac ‘m’ was shot on the chest and his passenger, Benjamin Olubodun ‘m’ shot on his right shoulder by four masked armed robbers who equally snatched his unregistered Black TVS motorcycle, operatives from the Division moved to the scene.

“The robbers on sighting them from afar escaped but a cut to size single barrel gun was recovered at the scene while the victims were rescued to Trauma Centre Ondo for medical attention. Effort is ongoing to arrest the culprits.

“Arrest of Suspected Armed Robber.

On 6th May 2025 at about 2000hrs, one Innocent Kazi was violently robbed of his motorcycle near Crest FM, Alagbaka, Akure, by a gang who struck him with a hammer before carting away the motorcycle.

“During the operation, a phone belonging to one of the suspects fell at the scene. Using advanced technological tools, SWAT operatives successfully traced and arrested two suspects, including Hasminu Jibirimi (m).

“The suspects confessed to the crime and revealed that stolen motorcycles were routinely handed over to one Yahaya (m), whose role is to swiftly transport them to the northern part of the country.

“Also, in a similar development the command Swat team armed with credible intelligence arrested two suspected thief who specializes in stealing vehicles from unsuspecting members of the public.”