By Ayodele Oni
Residents of Ode-Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local government area of Ondo State have called on the state police command to release details of suspects arrested in connection with the kidnap of a woman in the area.
The Command has however explained that investigation into the incident is ongoing and that the matter involves thorough handling.
The people expressed concern over the concealment of the identity and prosecution of suspects arrested by the Ondo State police in connection with the abduction of Mrs Morenike Falona, the wife of a prominent chief and business man in the town.
Mrs Morenike Falona was roughly abducted in the presence of her husband, Chief Babatunde Falona and other family members in the night at their home on the 15th of June, 2026, by heavily armed gunmen.
The combined efforts of security agencies and the cooperation of the Ikale/Apoi/Ijaw Arogbo communities, facilitated the rescue of the abducted woman three days after.
Few days later, the community was reliably informed that four suspected kidnappers had been apprehended in connection with the crime and taken to the Police Headquarters in Akure for interrogation and further investigation.
However, since the arrest of the suspects, the police was yet to brief the press or disclose the identity of the suspected kidnappers or charge them to court, raising suspicion among the Ikale/Apoi/Arogbo communities that the police might be up to something else.
A community leader and retired Public servant, Sir Rufus Falona who spoke on behalf of the Folana family said Irele and the surrounding communities are becoming worried about the silence of the police over the matter.
According to him, the continued concealment of the identity of the alleged suspects and the silence of the police over the matter, coupled with the failure to charge the suspects to court, further aggravated the fear that they might eventually evade justice.
Sir Falona however appealed to the Commissioner of police, Ondo state to fast track the investigation, unmask the criminals and prosecute them according to the laws.
Reacting to the report, the Ondo State Police Command, while noting with concern the anxiety of the family and members of the community, explained that the command was trying to be thorough as criminal investigations, particularly those involving kidnapping, syndicates and other organized crimes, are often intelligence-driven and require a high level of confidentiality.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Jimoh Abayomi, stated that premature disclosure of operational details, identities of suspects or other sensitive information may jeopardize ongoing investigations, compromise efforts to apprehend additional accomplices or prejudice subsequent prosecution.
He noted that following the rescue of the victim, Mrs Morenike Falona, several investigative steps were initiated, including the arrest and interrogation of suspects connected with the case, emphasising that the command has no interest in concealing the identity of criminal suspects or frustrating the course of justice.
ASP Abayomi therefore reiterated the unwavering commitment of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, to transparency, professionalism and the rule of law, assuring the public that appropriate information would be made available to the public while suspects will be charged to court accordingly.
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