Police arrest 100 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 100 suspected criminals across the 18 local government areas of the state within the last one month.

The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Saturday at the command’s headquarters in Akure, said that the suspects were picked up for offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to cultism, fraud, and vandalism.

Lawal said four suspected armed robbers who killed a commercial motorcyclist, Nwike Sabbat, while attempting to snatch his motorcycle, were among those apprehended.

He listed the suspects as Adeife Adewumi, Matthew Johnson, and Diisu Sunday, while their alleged armourer, Chief Kogbona, 87, was arrested with 10 live cartridges.

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“Recovered exhibits include two cut-to-size barrel guns, one live cartridge, and one expended cartridge.

“Further investigation exposed their arms supplier, Chief Kogbona, from whom 10 live cartridges were recovered. This highlights our resolve not only to arrest perpetrators but also to dismantle their supply chain,” the CP said.

He added that two suspected kidnappers, Mohammadu Usman (25) and Mohammed Idrisa (27), were also arrested in Ikare-Akoko after a gun battle in which three of their accomplices escaped with gunshot injuries.

He said both suspects had confessed to their crimes and were positively identified by their victims.

In Akure, Lawal said, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided criminal hideouts on August 27, arresting 16 suspects and recovering four motorcycles and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

On vehicle-related crimes, the police recovered five cars with tampered chassis and VIN numbers, one vehicle bearing a fake NANS plate number, and several others without valid registration or proper documentation.

In Owo, two suspected cultists, Adams Precious and Kayode Alana, were arrested for allegedly terrorising the Isuada community. The duo, he said, had been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Section for further investigation.

Other achievements, according to the CP, included the arrest of a suspected fraudster behind a N10 million scam in Akure, the recovery of stolen goods worth millions of naira, and the arrest of vandals.

Lawal attributed the breakthroughs to the strategic direction of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the cooperation of residents.

He assured the people of the state that the command would continue to make Ondo unsafe for criminals but safe for law-abiding citizens.

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