The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a commercial motorcyclist and six others in connection with the abduction of Mr. Omoniyi Samuel, a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayandele Olayinka, the motorcyclist, 45-year-old Benson Alaba of Akungba-Akoko, regularly transported the lecturer to his workplace.
He then allegedly capitalized on his relationship with the victim to monitor his movements for the gang that was planning to abduct him.
According to the Police Alaba reportedly visited the victim’s residence on August 4, 2025 under the pretext of requesting a handset.
The Police claimed that the visit was a calculated move to gather information about where the victims was and use it as an advantage in executing their plan to abduct him.
The lecturer’s house was reportedly invaded by the syndicate shortly after the visit and the victim taken away away.
Another suspect, 42-year-old Ogungbemi Wasiu of Okeruwa, Ikare, allegedly supplied the Itel phone used to contact the victim’s family to make their demand for ₦5 million ransom.
The Police also revealed that five other suspects Audu Shaibu, Ismaila Abdullahi, Nuru Bature, Usman Baba, and Yusuf Muhammed carried out the physical abduction and handled the negotiations with the family.
The Command while dismissing reports that the suspects were caught while sharing ransom claimed that their arrests followed intelligence-led operations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, vowed that all those involved in the heinous act will face the full wrath of the law as efforts continue to arrest other members of the syndicate who are on the run.
