Police bust kidnapping ring in Ondo, rescue 3 victims

By Muftau Ogunyemi

The Police Command in Ondo State says it arrested three suspects and rescued three victims in connection with an alleged kidnapping incident in Oda community, Akure South Local Government Area.

DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s spokesperson, who said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Akure, explained that the suspects were captured on a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera.

Jimoh said the arrest followed the circulation of the CCTV footage on social media showing the abduction of a victim by suspected criminals in Oda Area of Akure.

“Upon receiving the footage, the command immediately activated its intelligence team, leveraging digital surveillance analysis and coordinated field operations to identify and apprehend the suspects.

“Acting on credible intelligence and investigative leads derived from the footage, operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad carried out targeted operations which led to the arrest of one of the suspects.

“During interrogation, the suspect provided useful information that led to the subsequent arrest of two other accomplices believed to have played active roles in the incident, and who were also captured on the CCTV footage.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects played various roles in the commission of the alleged kidnapping.

“The arrested suspects are identified as; Mohammed Koro ‘m’ aged 27yrs, Muhammad Usman ‘m’ aged 30yrs and Musa Alhaji ‘m’ aged 23yrs,” he said.

The spokesperson, however, said operational efforts culminated in the successful rescue of the three victims, who were debriefed and taken to the nearest hospital for medical attention.

According to him, the suspects have made useful confessional statements, which are aiding ongoing efforts to ensure the arrest of other syndicate members.

Jimoh, therefore, said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The spokesperson also said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Adebowale Lawal, reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to combating crime and criminality, emphasising that Ondo would not serve as a safe haven for criminals.