Police authorities in Ondo State have arrested a suspected kidnapping ringleader, Abdullahi Lawal, at Aderoju Camp in Ugbe-Akoko, Akoko Local Government Area.
The spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said the arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and coordinated operations by security operatives. Lawal was identified as the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Aremu Tijani on August 18, 2025, at the victim’s bush farm in the Ikare-Akoko area.
“Following sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated operational strategies, operatives of the Command have successfully arrested one Abdullahi Lawal of Aderoju Camp, Ugbe Akoko Town, who has been identified as the mastermind of a kidnapping incident involving one Aremu Tijani that occurred on August 18, 2025, at the victim’s bush farm in the Ikare-Akoko axis,” Jimoh said.
He added that security operatives had previously engaged members of the criminal gang in a tactical operation, resulting in the neutralisation of three suspects and the arrest of four others. Lawal, the gang leader, initially escaped despite sustaining gunshot injuries during the encounter.
Jimoh said detectives later intensified efforts and tracked down Lawal in Ikare-Akoko. “After months of sustained intelligence-led operations and coordinated efforts by security personnel, the suspect was successfully apprehended by police operatives in Ikare-Akoko. He has since made useful confessional statements and will be charged to court,” he stated.
