Agents from Ondo State Police Command arrested two suspected kidnappers, Ridwan Salisu (45) and Umar Isyaku (19), and recovered 3.6 million guilds from them.
After the intelligence gathering, the two were arrested. However, the suspect claimed that the money started with a point of sale (POS) business.
Odo State, especially the northern government area of Akur, has witnessed a surge in kidnapping cases and victims are forced to pay huge ransoms. A farmer, Olanrewaju Oyeleye, reportedly paid a 25 million guild release, saying the kidnappers had an extensive supply network within the forest.
Addressing a reporter, Ondo State Police Chief Wilfred Afolabi, he revealed that two motorcycle riders (Alias Legelege) identified as Lekan Temitope (Alias Legelege) and Komolafe Sunday (Alias Veego) served as informants and provided logical support to the kidnappers.
Komolafe reportedly acknowledged to assist the kidnapper by providing food to victims during imprisonment and receiving payments based on the number of people abducted. His confession led to the arrest of two other suspects, Umaru Abubakar Sanda and Yusuf Ahmadu of Akunu-Akoko.
According to police, Abubakar admitted to guarding the victims in the forests that were held.
Additionally, the infamous vandalist Samuel Friday, sentenced to three jail time for tampering with electrical devices, has been re-arrested. Police caused the transformer behavior in Ilu-Abo, the state’s Ogbes area on Friday.
Commissioner Afolabi revealed that he had been involved in vandalism since 2016 on Friday and sold the stolen cables to two so-called receivers identified as Alhaji Abubakar (Alias Abu Shisha) and Alhaji Sheu Sabo, both of whom reside in Akure. Police have launched an effort to arrest suspicious buyers.
Meanwhile, Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun has approved the deployment of technical equipment to Ondo State to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa also promised to provide the necessary resources to strengthen the fight against crime.
