The Ondo State Police Command has successfully rescued two k!dnapped victims, recovered N1.5 million suspected ransom and subsequently arrested three suspected k!dnappers in Isua-Akoko.
The police in a statement released said the rescue operation commenced on Friday, September 11, 2026, following credible intelligence that a group of suspected k!dnappers hibernating in the thick forest along the Ifira–Idoani axis were planning to emerge from their hideout to collect ransom.
Acting on the intelligence, the police say its operatives in Isua Division, in collaboration with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) and Agbe-Koya, embarked on a coordinated rescue and ambush operation deep inside the forest.
The statement says the security operatives strategically positioned themselves along the suspected route and maintained surveillance for several hours.
‘’At about 2330 hours, the suspected k!dnappers, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest. On sighting the security operatives, they opened fire, prompting the security team to tactically repel the att@ck and rescue the two victims, Mr. Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.”
The police say during the encounter, the security operatives recovered the sum of N1,500,000 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), suspected to have been brought for ransom payment. The suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and escaped into the thick forest.
The statement mentioned that following sustained follow-up operations and credible intelligence on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at about 2030 hours, the suspected k!dnappers were sighted along the Idoani Road. Operatives immediately mobilized to the area, resulting in the arrest of three suspects, while two of them had sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.
The command said the arrested suspects are Abdullahi Abubakar, male, Ibrahim Abubakar, male, and Oseni Abubakar, male, all resident of Akunnu area. It says the two rescued victims, subsequently came to the Police Station and positively identified the arrested suspects as the persons who abducted them.
A Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the Police has also been identified by the victims as being connected to the criminal operation. The motorcycle remains in Police custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu has immediately ordered that the case be transferred to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Akure, for discreet investigation, with a view to uncovering the full network and bringing all those connected with the criminal operation to justice.