The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man who pretended to have been kidnapped in order to demand ransom from his relatives. The case highlights the force’s commitment to preventing fraudulent and staged criminal activities.
Police operatives from Ogbese Division, working alongside non-state security groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), hunters, and vigilantes, intercepted two suspects transporting ₦800,000, cigarettes, and a bottle of alcohol during a routine patrol at Kashimola/Agunla Forest.
During questioning, the suspects revealed that the cash was intended as ransom for their younger brother, Mathew Ekele, who they claimed had been abducted. The police quickly set up a sting operation to catch anyone attempting to collect the money.
Further investigations exposed that the kidnapping was entirely staged by Ekele himself. He was arrested along Ogbese Road while attempting to collect the ransom, and his motorcycle was recovered as evidence.
The police credited the success of the operation to careful planning, intelligence gathering, and the support of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, whose leadership has strengthened law enforcement nationwide.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly, warning that timely information is crucial in preventing families from being targeted by staged kidnappings.
Ondo State Police emphasized their resolve to protect lives and property, assuring the public that all forms of criminality will be tackled decisively across the state.
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