The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended four individuals suspected of involvement in a violent attack along Liberty Avenue in Ilu-Abo, which resulted in the death of a resident and the abduction of a woman.
Police officers, acting on intelligence, traced the suspects to a hotel behind Ado Garage in Akure, leading to their arrest. The operation was conducted jointly by the Ondo State Police tactical team and the Amotekun Corps, the state’s security network agency.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the arrests are connected to the January 26 incident in which a resident, John Ofuduwa, was killed, and Oladeinde Tomilola was kidnapped but later released.
The suspects have been identified as Abdullahi Ismaila, 20; Babanyara Japi, 25; Babuga Abubakar, 25; and Adama Usman, 15. During the operation, officers recovered ₦1.4 million, suspected to be ransom proceeds from previous kidnappings.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects belong to a criminal network operating in Eleyowo, Ilu-Abo, and Ogbese. The released victim, Oladeinde, positively identified the suspects and thanked the police for their swift response.
The police confirmed that further investigations are underway to determine whether the arrested individuals are linked to other kidnappings in the state. Efforts are also ongoing to apprehend additional members of the syndicate.
Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, reaffirmed the commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to combat kidnapping, robbery, and other violent crimes throughout the state.
