Father, three sons held for alleged kidnapping in Ondo

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has arrested 28 persons allegedly involved in various criminal activities across the state.

Among the suspects are a 56-year-old man identified as Iliasu and his three sons — Usman, 33; Wahab, 27; and Yakubu, 18 — who were arrested over the alleged abduction of a man in Oba Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the corps’ headquarters in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, alleged that the family had been involved in kidnapping activities, using cattle as a cover for their operations.

Adeleye said, “There is a particular suspect that we have been trailing since 2024 over kidnapping activities in the Northern Senatorial District. I’m glad to let you know that the long arm of the law finally caught up with him during an operation we carried out in the last four days.

“In the same operation, the victim was kidnapped on his way to Oba Akoko, and the family promptly arranged the ransom without informing Amotekun. Despite paying the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release the victim. “They also threatened the family not to report the incident.

“After collecting the ransom, they still refused to release the victim, which eventually prompted the family to report the case to the Amotekun office. We immediately swung into action. At the end of the day, we found that a father and his three sons were directly involved, using cattle as a cover.”

The Amotekun commander further explained that during the rescue operation, the suspects allegedly attacked the operatives, but the victim was successfully rescued.

“Before the rescue, they had attacked the victim with knives and cutlasses, inflicting injuries to his head. We promptly rushed the victim to a nearby hospital and were able to recover over 75 per cent of the ransom paid. We also recovered drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and what appeared to be a blindfold used to cover the victim’s eyes,” he said.

Listing other arrests, Adeleye said Musa and Aruna were arrested in connection with kidnapping-related offences in Owo.

“On armed banditry, we arrested Mohammed, Tekasu, Rabi, Abubakar and Saibu. We also arrested Kalij and Adamu during the same operation. On illegal possession of firearms, robbery and cultism, we arrested Ayodele, 26; Oluwatobi, 24; and Michael, 34. On rape and stealing, we arrested Olagi.

“In Akure South, Idowu and Taiwo were arrested for conspiracy and theft of a generator. Also in Akure South, Olatunde, 39; Abdul, 27; and Amodu David were arrested in connection with conspiracy and theft of food items. On breach of peace, Akpaba Felix, 30; Agbonuma Abigail, 25; Mak, 24; Kelvin, 24; Kuma, 27; and Tuk, 24, were arrested in Oke-Ijebu, Akure, for conspiracy and breach of peace,” he said.

Adeleye reiterated that the state has zero tolerance for criminality.

“What we want to make clear is that there is no hiding place for criminals, both in the forests and in the towns.

“The Amotekun Corps has been strategically positioned across all parts of the state to ensure that commuters and residents can go about their lawful activities without molestation,” he said.