Police catch three kidnappers and save two victims in Ondo

The police in Ondo State have arrested three suspected kidnappers in Isua-Akoko. This area is the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government.

The suspects are Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar, and Oseni Abubakar. They all live in Akunnu community, which is in Akoko North-East Local Government.

In a statement from the police's Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, two victims were also rescued during the operation. The police recovered N1.5 million from the kidnappers' hideout.

The operation was a joint effort with the Amotekun Corps and local hunters. The statement said, "The command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state, following the successful rescue of two kidnapped victims, recovery of ₦1.5 million suspected ransom and the subsequent arrest of three suspected kidnappers in Isua-Akoko."

The operation started on Friday, September 11, 2026. Police received reliable information that kidnappers hiding in the thick forest along the Ifira, Idoani road were planning to come out for ransom collection.

Based on this information, operatives from Isua Division worked with the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) and Agbe-Koya. They planned a rescue and ambush operation deep in the forest.

The PPRO explained that the security teams hid along the suspected route and watched for hours until they saw the kidnappers again. At around 11.30 pm, about four armed kidnappers came out of the forest. When they saw the police, they started shooting. The security team fought back and rescued the two victims, Mr. Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, without any injuries.

The two rescued victims later came to the police station. They identified the arrested suspects as the ones who took them. The police also found a Bajaj motorcycle connected to the crime. The victims confirmed this motorcycle, and it is now in police custody as part of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, has ordered that the case be sent to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Akure. This is for further investigation to find the whole network and bring everyone involved to justice.