The Ondo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected kidnappers of a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, revealing that a commercial motorcyclist who routinely conveyed him to work was part of the syndicate.
The victim, identified as Omoniyi Samuel, was abducted on August 4, 2025, after the okada operator, Benson Alaba, allegedly used his familiarity to spy on the lecturer’s movements and pave the way for the attack.
Police investigations showed that Alaba, 45, visited the victim’s residence under the pretext of requesting a mobile phone, in what detectives described as a calculated ploy to monitor his schedule.
Moments after his departure, other gang members swooped in and whisked the lecturer away.
Another suspect, Wasiu, 42, was alleged to have provided the Itel phone used to contact the victim’s family for a ₦5 million ransom.
The police said Wasiu falsely claimed he lost the handset two days before the abduction, but failed to report the incident — an omission believed to be deliberate.
The remaining suspects — Audu Shaibu (25), Ismaila Abdullahi (24), Nuru Bature (18), Usman Baba (20), and Yusuf Muhammed (23), all from Agopanu, Owo — were reportedly involved in the physical seizure of the victim and direct ransom negotiations.
Ondo Police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka said the victim, now receiving treatment at the university’s health centre, was rescued through a discreet intelligence-led operation, not during any ransom-sharing as earlier speculated.
Olayinka added that efforts were ongoing to track down fleeing members of the gang.
“The Command is committed to dismantling kidnapping syndicates and ensuring residents can live without fear,” he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal has warned against criminal activities during the forthcoming Aregbe (Dudu) Festival in Akure.
He stressed that while the police respect the cultural heritage of the Akure Kingdom, any attempt to hide behind festivities to commit crimes will be met with the full weight of the law.
He urged parents to caution their wards, adding: “The preservation of culture must go hand in hand with respect for law and order.”
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