Police Arrest Kidnappers’ Armourer, Suspected Cultists In Ondo

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested no fewer than four notorious kidnappers operating across the State.

The operatives of the Command also arrested a suspected logistics supplier to a notorious kidnapping syndicate in the State and other neighbouring States.

Parading the suspects at the Police Command headquarters along Igbatoro Road in Akure, the state capital, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Afolabi, said the suspects included 30-year-old Abubakar Bamoh, Babuga Muhammed, Ibrahim Umar, 25, and Paul Osanyinduro, 38.

CP Afolabi disclosed that the suspects and other suspected criminals arrested were apprehended following intelligence reports.

The CP further hinted that Bamoh, an indigene of Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State, served as the armourer and logistics coordinator for a network of kidnappers in. Ondo State.

According to Afolabi, Bamoh was arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command at a Fulani camp in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area of the State.

The police boss said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was deeply involved in providing logistics for a kidnapping operation in Osun State, where the victim was held in captivity inside a forest in Igbara-Oke.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect volunteered a confessional statement and provided useful information regarding the operations of the syndicate.”

In another operation, CP Afolabi further disclosed that his team rescued a kidnap victim and arrested one of his abductors.

He said the development was made possible following a combined effort by Police operatives and local hunters in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area.

According to him, his team acted on actionable intelligence regarding the movement of the kidnappers who had abducted one Ogunniyi Semiu on May 14, 2025.

“Based on credible intelligence, the joint team laid an ambush in a forest near Supare-Akoko, believed to be a rendezvous for the suspects who had demanded ₦14 million in ransom

“During the ensuing gun battle, several of the suspects were injured, while one identified as Babuga Muhammed from Igana, Iseyin in Oyo State, was apprehended and the victim, Semiu, was rescued alive and unharmed, with no ransom paid.”

In addition to these arrests, the Command also nabbed other suspected kidnappers, including Ibrahim Umar and Paul Osanyinduro, operating in the Owo and Akoko areas of the State.

The Commissioner of Police stated that the operatives of the command further cracked down on suspected cultists terrorising residents of the Owo axis. Two suspects, Aliu Raymond (42) and Olaoluwa Olootu, were arrested at Isuada in Owo for their involvement in cult-related activities as members of the Eye Confraternity.

Afolabi added that, “These suspects have long been on our wanted list. They confessed to several criminal acts, including the recent attack on a commercial motorcycle rider on May 14, 2025, in Isuada.”