Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested 10 individuals suspected of involvement in a kidnapping syndicate operating in and around Akure, the capital of Ondo State, in a major enforcement action as part of wider efforts to stem a surge in violent crime across the region.
The arrests were made on February 23, 2026, during a coordinated operation involving the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Section and visiting personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) deployed to Ondo State as operational support. Police authorities said the action came in response to credible and actionable intelligence linking the suspects to recent abduction cases and ransom-related activities in the state capital.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, operatives mobilised quickly along key locations on the Ondo Road axis of Akure based on targeted intelligence. The police confirmed that the 10 suspects were apprehended and that several items, including a motorcycle and cash suspected to be ransom money from kidnapping victims, were recovered at the scene. Some of the recovered currency noted by investigators included burnt notes, which are often associated with ransom transactions.
The suspects were identified by name in the police statement as Muritala Muhammed (22), Mustapha Adamu (20), Usman Ibrahim (25), Amisu Aruna (28), Asiru Abdulasis (20), Abduliu Sanni (22), Ibrahim Suraju (20), Noah Isiaku (20), Abdulahi Suraju (20), and Arabi Hamet (18). Police sources said confessional statements were made by the suspects during preliminary questioning, in which they acknowledged their involvement in the alleged kidnapping syndicate and related criminal activities.
The recovered exhibits, including the motorcycle and cash, are being processed and documented as part of the ongoing investigation. Police also indicated that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend additional accomplices who may still be at large. Authorities emphasised that the operation was intelligence-driven, reflecting a strategic shift toward proactive policing and disruption of organised criminal networks.
In response to the arrests, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adebowale Lawal, called on residents of Ondo State to strengthen community vigilance and collaborate with security agencies. The commissioner encouraged neighbourhood watch groups and vigilante organisations to complement official efforts to protect lives and property, and to provide credible, timely information that can assist in preempting future crimes.
The arrests come amid a broader intensification of security operations within Ondo State. According to recent police data, command authorities have arrested hundreds of suspects on a range of criminal charges, including kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms, as part of sustained patrols, intelligence gathering, stop-and-search exercises and coordinated tactical deployments across the state. In the first two months of 2026 alone, more than 280 suspects have been arrested for various offences, with eight kidnapping victims successfully rescued in separate operations.
Analysts note that while Akure and its environs have historically been considered relatively stable compared with some other states in Nigeria’s South-West and North-Central regions, kidnapping and related violent crime have increasingly challenged perceptions of security in the city and across the state. Kidnappers in recent years have targeted commuters along major highways, private individuals in semi-urban and rural communities, and, in some cases, religious congregants following attacks on places of worship. These trends have prompted calls for enhanced inter-agency cooperation, community engagement and strategic deployment of resources to vulnerable zones.
The operational context in Ondo State has also seen collaboration between police and other security outfits, including the Western Nigeria Security Network, known locally as Amotekun. Prior operations by Amotekun have yielded multiple arrests of individuals suspected of involvement in kidnappings and other criminal activities, underscoring the benefits of multi-layered security responses involving state and community-driven forces.
In recent days police have also responded to a separate kidnapping incident in Ondo State where gunmen attacked a church in Uso, abducting multiple worshippers during a service. In that case, one victim was rescued and an alleged informant linked to the attack was arrested, prompting police to advise that night religious services be temporarily suspended to reduce vulnerability to further attacks.
Security officials stressed that the arrest of the 10 suspected kidnappers represents a tactical success but not an end to broader efforts to address violent crime. Law enforcement authorities reiterated the need for sustained intelligence operations, community cooperation and a whole-of-society response to dismantle criminal networks that exploit economic vulnerabilities and weak enforcement environments.
Prosecutors are expected to arraign the arrested suspects on charges including conspiracy, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences under Nigeria’s criminal code once investigations and evidence documentation are complete. Police have pledged to uphold due process and ensure that the suspects’ rights are respected throughout the judicial process.
Stakeholders and community leaders in Akure have expressed public support for the police action, viewing the arrests as an important step toward restoring confidence in public safety. However, some observers emphasise that long-term reductions in kidnapping and violent crime will require comprehensive strategies, including socio-economic development interventions aimed at addressing the root causes that drive individuals toward criminality.
Stone Reporters note that the arrest of the 10 suspected kidnappers in Akure is part of a broader intensification of law enforcement efforts in Ondo State. While authorities continue to pursue additional suspects and expand operational reach, sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities remains central to combating the evolving threat of kidnapping and associated criminal activities.
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