The operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested two commercial motorcyclists, Komolafe Sunday and Lekan Temitope, for allegedly acting as spies for kidnappers in the state.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Afolabi said five other suspected kidnappers were also arrested at different locations within two weeks across the state.
The police commissioner said: “Sunday, aged 39, also known as Veego, was arrested on February 22, 2025, by the Police Special Squad through the use of technical support.
“During interrogation, he confessed to being a motorcyclist who helps the kidnappers to get food for their victims while in custody, and also receives money based on the number of people kidnapped.
“He Sunday also serves as a spy to inform them of movements along the road.
“Sunday led the police to Akunu-Akoko, where two suspected kidnappers, Umaru Abubakar Sanda and Yusuf Ahmadu, were arrested.
“Sanda confessed to being the one who guards the victims in the forest when they are brought to base.
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“Further interrogations led to the arrest of Lekan Temitope a.k.a Legelege, who is also a motorcyclist that works for the kidnappers.”
Afolabi disclosed that two other suspected kidnappers, Ridwan Salisu and Umar Isyaku, were also arrested at Ipele in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Afolabi explained that the two suspected kidnappers were arrested on March 14, 2025, through coordinated intelligence-led policing, while Salisu claimed that over N3.6 million found in their possession was for his Point of Sale (POS) business.
The police commissioner said investigations were ongoing to confirm if the money was the proceeds of ransoms paid by victims.
He added: “Also, on February 24, 2025, joint efforts of the police and local vigilantes at Owo led to the arrest of one Abdullahi Mallam Bala, aged 21.
“Bala could not give a satisfactory account of what he was doing in the bush alone without being a nomad or having any reason to be in there.
“Further investigations revealed that he is one of the suspects on the run, part of the syndicate of Ibrahim Dan Umaru, who was arrested earlier in the year.
“Bala’s name has reoccurred in kidnapping-related cases.”
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