The Ondo State Police Command has arrested seven suspects linked to the abduction of Mr. Omoniyi Samuel, a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
The arrests were made in what the police described as discreet, intelligence-driven operation that revealed the coordinated roles played by each suspect.
According to the command, investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Benson Alaba, 45, a commercial motorcyclist from Akungba-Akoko who regularly conveyed the lecturer to work, exploited his familiarity to spy on the victim’s movements.
“On August 4, 2025, he visited the lecturer’s residence unannounced, pretending to request a handset.”
“Shortly after his departure, other gang members moved in and abducted the lecturer,” the police said.
The statement also revealed that another suspect, Ogungbemi Wasiu, 42, of Okeruwa, Ikare, allegedly provided the Itel handset used to contact the victim’s family to demand a ransom of ₦5 million.
“Although he claimed the handset was lost on August 2, 2025, he failed to report the loss to the police, a deliberate omission that aided the criminal enterprise,” the command added.
Four other suspects: Audu Shaibu, 25; Ismaila Abdullahi, 24; Nuru Bature, 18; Usman Baba, 20; and Yusuf Muhammed, 23, all from Agopanu, Owo, were identified as those who carried out the physical abduction.
“Eyewitness testimony confirmed that these five suspects, acting in concert with Benson Alaba and under the operational facilitation of Ogungbemi Wasiu, participated in forcibly abducting the victim and directly demanding the ransom from the family during the incident.”
“The seamless coordination between Benson Alaba’s surveillance, Ogungbemi Wasiu’s communication support, and the aggressive role of the five field operatives clearly points to a well-organised kidnapping syndicate,” the police noted.
“The Command strongly warns against the dangers of disinformation and misinformation, as they have the potential to mislead the public, undermine ongoing investigations, and erode trust in security agencies,” the statement warned.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal, praised the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his “continuous support, strategic guidance and morale-boosting initiatives.”