Ondo police arrest four suspected kidnappers, recover N1.4m ransom
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers linked to an attack along Liberty Avenue in Ilu-Abo that led to the killing of one John Ofuduwa and the abduction of a woman, Oladeinde Tomilola.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the arrest followed sustained investigations into the incident earlier reported on January 26, 2026.
He said the breakthrough was achieved under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, after credible intelligence revealed that the suspects had lodged in a hotel behind Ado Garage in Akure.
According to him, operatives of the police tactical teams, working with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, stormed the location and arrested the four suspects.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Ismaila, 20; Babanyara Japi, 25; Babuga Abubakar, 25; and Adama Usman, 15.
Police said the sum of N1.4m, suspected to be ransom proceeds from kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects during the operation.
Jimoh added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belonged to a criminal gang operating around Eleyowo, Ilu-Abo, and Ogbese areas, while the abducted victim, who was later released, had identified them.
He assured that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
