Police nab five suspected kidnappers in Ondo, recover ransom proceeds

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered N261,000 believed to be part of the ransom paid for two abducted minors.

The victims, identified as Jehu, 10, and Yohana, 5, were reportedly kidnapped while on their way to school in the Sawmill area of Ore and taken to an undisclosed location.

Their father, Andrew Yohana, was said to have reported the incident at the Ore Police Station in Odigbo Local Government Area.

A police source disclosed that detectives immediately launched an investigation following the complaint.

According to the source, N261,000 suspected to be proceeds of the ransom was recovered from the suspects during the operation.

The source added that further investigation led operatives to another hideout linked to one Blessing Saturday, where an unregistered motorcycle allegedly used in carrying out the crime was recovered.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the development in a statement.

He described the arrest as another major breakthrough in the command’s ongoing crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes across the state.

Abayomi said: “Through painstaking technical intelligence, tracking analysis and coordinated investigative efforts, operatives were able to uncover the identities and locations of the suspects.”

He identified three of the suspects as Peter Moses, 25; Sunday Isaac, 23; and Sanusi Dan Asabe, 37.

The police spokesperson added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional exhibits linked to the crime.

According to him, the suspects had made confessional statements detailing their respective roles in the abduction and would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Abayomi reiterated the commitment of the command to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.