Ondo State police command has arrested the logistic supplier to suspected kidnappers operating in different parts of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Olutokunbo Afolabi, who paraded the suspects, said the command, through intelligence gathering, arrested a 30-year-old Abubakar Bamoh, who is an armourer of kidnappers operating in the state.
Also, the Police Boss said a combined tactical team of operatives from the Command and local hunters based in Ikare-Akoko in Akoko Northeast local government carried out a successful operation that led to the rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of one of the suspects involved in the abduction.
In a major breakthrough, the Police Boss said acting on credible intelligence regarding the activities of Abubakar Bamoh, male, aged 30 years, an indigene of Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command swung into action and successfully apprehended the suspect at one of the Fulani camps in Igbara-Oke in Ifedore local government area of the state.
Afolabi said Bamoh is alleged to be a major logistics provider for suspected kidnapping syndicates operating across state lines. He said preliminary investigations and intelligence revealed that he played a significant role in providing logistical support in a kidnapping incident that occurred in Osun State, in which the victim was abducted and subsequently held hostage in a forest located in the Igbara-Oke area of Ondo State.
Afolabi said that upon his arrest, the suspect volunteered a confession and provided useful information regarding the operations of the syndicate.
He said a search conducted at his premises led to the recovery of one Tecno mobile phone, suspected to have been used by the syndicate for communication, and a solar panel, allegedly used to power their devices in the forest.
On the rescue of the kidnap victim, the Police Boss said “In the early hours of today, a combined tactical team of operatives from the Ondo State Police Command and local hunters based in Ikare carried out a successful operation that led to the rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of one of the suspects involved in the abduction.
“The operation followed actionable intelligence regarding the movement of suspected kidnappers responsible for the abduction of one Ogunniyi Semiu ‘m’ on 14th May 2025, around Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area.
“Acting on the intelligence, the joint team strategically laid an ambush in a forest area near Supare-Akoko, believed to be a rendezvous point for the suspects who had demanded a ransom of ₦14 million.
“During the interception, the suspects engaged the operatives in a fierce gun duel. In the exchange, several of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries, while one of them, Babuga Muhammed from Igana, Iseyin, Oyo State, was apprehended. Crucially, the victim, Ogunniyi Semiu, was rescued alive and unhurt. No ransom was paid.”
Other suspected kidnappers arrested included Ibrahim Umar and Paul Osanyinduro, who were operating in Owo and Akoko areas of the state.
Apart from suspected kidnappers, the Police Command arrested suspected cultists who have been terrorising Owo axis of the state and recovered weapons used for their operations.
His words “The Command has arrested one Aliu Raymond ‘m’ aged 42 years and Olaoluwa Olootu at Isuada in Owo. Suspects are members of the Eye Cult Group who have been terrorizing the Isuada area and have been on the Police wanted list. They confessed to numerous crimes they have perpetrated, including an attack on a commercial motorcycle rider on 14/5/2025 in Isuada and mentioned some other members of his group.”
