Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
AKURE, Nigeria — Residents of Oda Town in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have apprehended a man suspected of involvement in kidnapping after he reportedly disguised himself as a mentally disturbed person to avoid detection, local reports indicate. The development comes amid heightened community vigilance following recent incidents and concerns over safety in the area.
According to multiple news accounts, the man was seen loitering in front of Ogbe High School in Oda Town for approximately three days, acting in a manner consistent with someone feigning mental instability. His prolonged presence and behaviour soon attracted suspicion from residents, who became increasingly uneasy due to the unusual pattern of his movements.
The situation reportedly intensified against a backdrop of community concern triggered by the disappearance of a child in the Emiloro Community of Oda Town less than two weeks earlier. That unresolved case is said to have heightened residents’ alertness to unusual activity and contributed to an atmosphere of anxiety in the town.
On Wednesday, residents confronted the man after observing that he did not exhibit typical signs of cognitive impairment, despite his earlier pretence. In footage circulating on social media, members of the community can be seen urging him to remove his clothes to verify his identity; he initially resisted but eventually complied. Items reportedly recovered at the scene included sweets, juices, clothing, a bag, a cage, shoes and a ‘charm’ tied around his waist — possessions that locals interpreted as suspicious and potentially linked to criminal intent.
A woman featured in the videos shared with reporters alleged that the suspect frequently sought refuge in her shop late at night, adding to concerns that his presence was not genuinely linked to mental health issues. When questioned about his origins, the man reportedly claimed to be from Olofin along Idanre Road, saying he had come to Oda Town in search of a younger brother — an account that residents found inconsistent with his earlier conduct.
Following the confrontation, the suspect was handed over to operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, better known as the Amotekun Corps, stationed in Akure, for further investigation. Local security officials are understood to be conducting inquiries to determine whether the individual is indeed linked to any criminal network, including possible connections to recent abductions or local kidnapping syndicates.
The arrest highlights rising concerns among Oda Town residents regarding security, particularly given the earlier disappearance of a child and growing unease about criminal elements operating under disguises. Community leaders, including the Chief Imam of Oda Town, have reportedly urged parents and guardians to monitor the movements of children more closely and to avoid sending them on errands unsupervised, especially during late hours, until the investigation yields clearer findings.
Security analysts stress that individuals engaged in kidnapping and related activities sometimes adopt deceptive tactics to blend into communities or avoid scrutiny, making early detection a challenge without vigilant citizen reporting. In Ondo State, both the Amotekun Corps and the Nigeria Police Force have been actively pursuing kidnapping suspects through intelligence-driven operations and arrests in recent months, signalling sustained efforts to counteract such threats.
As of reporting, the suspect remains under the custody of security operatives pending the outcome of formal investigations. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed whether any direct evidence links him to specific kidnapping cases, including the Emiloro child disappearance, but they continue to encourage members of the public to report suspicious individuals or activities as part of collective crime-prevention initiatives.
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