Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested ten members of a kidnapping syndicate in Akure, recovering ransom and their operational motorcycle.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Jimoh Abayomi, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the arrests were made on Monday, during a joint operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Section and Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel.
According to the PPRO, the command, while acting on credible intelligence, moved to locations along Ondo Road in Akure, the state capital, arresting all the suspects.
The suspects include 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).
He disclosed that the suspects were rounded up and arrested while an operational motorcycle allegedly used by the syndicate was recovered, alongside ransom money, part of which consisted of burnt currency notes.
Abayomi said part of the recovered cash was found burnt and has been documented as exhibits as investigations into the matter continue.
He said the suspects have made confessional statements and that the investigation is ongoing to uncover other members of the gang who may still be at large.
The Command said efforts are ongoing to unravel the full scope of the syndicate’s operations and to apprehend other accomplices who may still be at large.
He assured residents of the Command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes, urging the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
He said the Command remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and will not relent in bringing perpetrators of crime to justice.