Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
The Ogun State Police Command has intensified investigations into a suspected kidnapping network operating across parts of Ijebu-Ode and surrounding communities in Ogun State, following the arrest of 67-year-old Abdullai Muhammadu, the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu-Ode, and his eldest son, Bala Muhammadu, over alleged involvement in recent abductions and ransom-related transactions. The case has triggered heightened concern in communities across the Ijebu axis over the alleged infiltration of kidnapping operations into local settlements.
The arrests reportedly took place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on or about Thursday, May 15, 2026, during a coordinated operation by the Ogun State Police Command’s anti-kidnapping tactical unit, acting on intelligence linking the suspects to a series of kidnappings recorded across rural roads and forest corridors within the Ijebu region. According to police operational accounts, the suspects were picked up after weeks of surveillance following multiple abduction incidents reported between early and mid-May 2026 in adjoining communities.
During a search of the Seriki Fulani’s residence in Ijebu-Ode, investigators reportedly recovered a bag allegedly used for transporting ransom money, which was found inside the kitchen of the compound. Police sources said the discovery formed a key part of ongoing investigations into how ransom payments were delivered, received, and possibly distributed within the suspected network. The item has since been taken for forensic examination as part of the evidence-gathering process.
The Ogun State Police Command has linked the ongoing investigation to a broader pattern of kidnappings along major routes connecting Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo, and border communities leading toward Lagos and Ondo states, where criminal groups are believed to exploit forested terrain for abduction and concealment operations. Authorities said intelligence gathered from recent cases suggested coordination among multiple actors involved in ransom collection and victim handling.
In his statement to investigators, Abdullai Muhammadu denied direct involvement in kidnapping operations but admitted awareness of his son’s alleged criminal background. He reportedly told interrogators that he knew his son, Bala Muhammadu, had previously been involved in kidnapping activities but believed he had stopped such conduct after earlier encounters with law enforcement.
“I knew my son was a kidnapper, but I thought he had stopped,” he was quoted as saying during police questioning, according to security sources familiar with the interrogation. The suspect maintained that he did not participate in any kidnapping operations but acknowledged that his family was under scrutiny due to the allegations against his son. Police are also investigating whether Bala Muhammadu resumed criminal activity after a previous detention linked to similar offences.
Security analysts say the case highlights the evolving structure of kidnapping operations in southwestern Nigeria, where local facilitators, transport routes, and ransom intermediaries are increasingly suspected of playing roles alongside armed groups operating from forest enclaves. Ogun State has in recent years recorded repeated kidnapping incidents along border communities, prompting intensified tactical operations by police and joint security teams.
As of Saturday, May 30, 2026, the Ogun State Police Command said both suspects remain in custody while investigations continue. Officials confirmed that further arrests are possible as detectives trace communication records, financial trails, and suspected accomplices linked to ransom collection activities across affected communities in the state.
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