The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two men allegedly involved in a kidnapping syndicate terrorising communities in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
According to the statement, the suspects were linked to the abduction of one Abubakar Abdullahim at Molege community, via Owo, on August 1, 2026.
“The arrests followed sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated operations by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Akure,” the statement read.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives proceeded to Oyo State, where they worked in collaboration with the Oyo State Police Command and arrested one Adamu Rabiu, male, adult, in Ibadan.
“In a related development, the second suspect, Haruna Likita, male, adult, was arrested around Ipele, via Owo, Ondo State, in connection with the same kidnapping incident.”
Jimoh said preliminary investigations had established links between the two suspects and the kidnapping of Abdullahim.
“During interrogation, both suspects made statements admitting their alleged involvement in the crime. Their statements, alongside other emerging intelligence, are being further investigated to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify other persons who may be connected to the crime,” he said.
The command said it was intensifying efforts to uncover the wider network and operational structure of the syndicate, with a view to apprehending all those involved.
The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation, while efforts were ongoing to pursue all credible leads and deploy intelligence-driven strategies to dismantle kidnapping networks and prevent criminal elements from finding refuge within Ondo State.
The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Felix Ohagwu, urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to the police and other relevant security agencies.
