Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a suspected kidnapping kingpin, Abdullahi Lawal, months after he allegedly masterminded the abduction of a farmer in the Ikare-Akoko area of Ondo State.
The suspect, said to be the leader of a kidnapping gang operating in the Akoko axis, was apprehended after months of intelligence-led surveillance and coordinated security operations.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command said the arrest was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks across the state.
According to the statement, Lawal, who resides at Aderoju Camp in Ugbe Akoko, was linked to the kidnapping of one Aremu Tijani on August 18, 2025, at the victim’s bush farm in Ikare-Akoko.
The police said a previous operation launched shortly after the incident led to a gun battle between security operatives and the criminal gang, during which three members of the group were neutralised while four others were arrested.
However, the suspected gang leader reportedly escaped during the operation despite sustaining gunshot injuries.
Following his escape, the police said the suspect was immediately placed on an intelligence watchlist while operatives intensified surveillance and investigations to track his whereabouts.
The command said the sustained efforts eventually paid off as the suspect was recently apprehended by operatives in Ikare-Akoko.
“The suspect has made useful confessional statements and will be charged to court,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
He also commended the professionalism and resilience of the officers involved in the operation and appreciated members of the public for providing credible information that aided the arrest.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities through appropriate channels.
The command assured the public that it would sustain proactive measures to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
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