Ondo Police Nab 10 Kidnappers, Recover Ransom Cash
By Rachel Akper
Ondo State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers and recovered ransom money as well as operational motorcycles used for abductions in parts of the state.
The suspects were arrested on Monday, February 23, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation along the Ondo Road axis in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The operation was carried out by combined security teams comprising the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and personnel of the Police Mobile Force deployed to strengthen security in vulnerable areas.
Police authorities said the arrests followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the activities of a kidnapping syndicate suspected to have been terrorising residents, commuters, and travellers along major highways and adjoining communities within the state.
Security sources disclosed that the suspects were tracked to their hideout and arrested in an early morning raid. The suspects were said to have been caught unawares, leading to their arrest without significant resistance.
Items recovered from the suspects included cash believed to be proceeds of ransom payments collected from families of abducted victims. Some of the recovered currency notes were reportedly burnt, suggesting attempts to destroy evidence before the raid. Operatives also recovered several motorcycles believed to have been used to monitor victims, carry out surveillance, and transport abducted persons to secret locations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, whose ages were put between 18 and 28 years, were members of a criminal syndicate allegedly responsible for multiple kidnapping incidents along highways and rural communities in Ondo State. Although police authorities did not release the identities of the suspects, they said some of them had made useful confessional statements that are helping investigators track other members of the gang still at large.
The Ondo State Police Command assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-driven policing and sustained security operations to reduce kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes in the state.
The Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in fighting crime. He also reassured the public that security operations would continue across vulnerable communities to protect lives and property.
Kidnapping has remained a major security challenge across parts of the South-West region, prompting increased joint security operations by law enforcement agencies in recent months. Authorities continue to appeal for public cooperation in reporting suspicious movements and criminal activities.
