The Ondo State Police Command has arrested and arraigned two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate believed to be behind a series of abductions across several communities in the state.
The suspects, identified as 30-year-old Bello Denge and 25-year-old Umar Isah, were apprehended following intelligence-led operations conducted by police operatives, according to the Command.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on 4 May 2026 by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi K. Jimoh, and shared via the Command’s official communication channels.
Police said the arrests were made after coordinated surveillance and targeted operations aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks operating within rural and semi-urban areas.
During an identification exercise at the Command Headquarters, no fewer than nine victims reportedly identified the suspects as being directly involved in separate kidnapping incidents.
“The victims independently confirmed the suspects’ active involvement in a series of abductions,” the statement noted.
Investigations linked the duo to coordinated attacks in communities including Iluabo, Eleyowo, Iju-Itaogbolu, and Pelebe, where farmers and residents were allegedly targeted by armed groups.
Security officials said the pattern of attacks pointed to an organised network operating across multiple locations, prompting intensified police action.
Following preliminary investigations, the suspects were charged to court on 30 April 2026 on offences bordering on kidnapping and other violent crimes.
They have since been remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Olokuta pending further legal proceedings.
Authorities also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the syndicate who are still at large.
The Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal groups operating in the state.
“The Command remains resolute in its mandate to safeguard lives and property and will continue to intensify operations against all forms of criminality,” the police statement added.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations across affected communities.
