The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers in connection with the violent attack and abduction that occurred along Liberty Avenue in Ilu-Abo, Ondo State.
The arrest followed a breakthrough in the investigation of the incident which resulted in the death of one John Ofuduwa and the abduction of Oladeinde Tomilola, who was later released by the abductors.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspects were arrested after credible intelligence indicated that some kidnappers had lodged in a hotel behind Ado Garage in Akure.
Jimoh explained that operatives of the Command’s tactical teams, working in collaboration with the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), immediately launched an operation to verify the information and apprehend the suspects.
“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 said.
According to him, the suspects were found in possession of the sum of ₦1.4 million, believed to be proceeds from ransom collected during kidnapping operations.
“The money has since been recovered and taken into police custody as exhibits,” he added.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects confessed to participating in the crime and were members of a criminal syndicate operating around the Eleyowo, Ilu-Abo and Ogbese axis of the state.
Jimoh further disclosed that the victim, Tomilola Oladeinde, was able to positively identify the suspects and had expressed appreciation to the police for their prompt response and efforts leading to their arrest.
The police spokesman said the Command had commenced a comprehensive investigation to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities within and outside the state.
He added that efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and determine whether the suspects were connected to other reported kidnapping incidents in the state.
The Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, reiterated its commitment to combating kidnapping, robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across Ondo State.
Jimoh said the police would continue to strengthen collaboration with security stakeholders to ensure criminals have no safe haven in the state.
He also urged members of the public to support the police and other security agencies by providing credible and timely information that would aid crime prevention and the arrest of offenders.