By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and rescued a victim in Isua Akoko, Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abayomi Jimoh, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on April 10, 2026, when a resident, identified simply as Ahmadu, informed the Isua Police Division that two young men who had gone to Ipesi Akoko for cattle rearing failed to return home, raising concerns over the whereabouts of one of them.
Acting on the report, operatives of the command launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation, which led to the successful rescue of the kidnapped victim.
Police said the victim disclosed that he was abducted at night by three armed suspects, adding that during the struggle, he inflicted a head injury on one of his captors while attempting to escape.
Following the information provided, police operatives stormed Obasanjo Motor Park in Isua where a suspect with a visible head injury was apprehended.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to being a member of the kidnapping gang, while the victim later identified him as one of his abductors, citing the injury sustained during the encounter.
The victim has since been taken to a hospital for medical treatment, while the suspect has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation and will be charged to court upon conclusion of the process.
The Commissioner of Police commended residents for providing timely and credible information, noting that public cooperation remains critical in the fight against crime.
He also lauded the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his continued support and strategic leadership, which he said has enhanced operational effectiveness across the command.
The command reiterated its commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with useful information.