The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 13 suspects for various crimes, including cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, fraud, burglary, and livestock theft across the state.
Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this in Akure during a press briefing on Friday, noting that the arrests were part of the Command’s recent breakthroughs in crime prevention and enforcement.
According to him, the operations were carried out in line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and through the Command’s community-driven, intelligence-led policing approach.
Lawal said operatives arrested two suspected cultists and armed robbers in Ipele, Owo Local Government Area, where a pump-action gun was recovered.
The suspects, identified as members of a group called “Malians Club,” reportedly confessed to belonging to a ten-member cult that operates along Ipele Road.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
In another operation, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit rescued three kidnapped victims along the Oka–Akungba axis after a gun duel with their abductors.
One of the kidnappers was killed in the exchange, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Two locally made pistols, expended cartridges, and mobile phones were recovered at the scene.
The police also arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Ayodeji Oluwapelumi Samuel, for allegedly hacking into the WhatsApp account of a retired senior police officer and defrauding her associates of over ₦1 million.
Lawal said detectives traced the suspect through his PalmPay account and digital trail before arresting him in Edo State.
Similarly, detectives arrested two men, Kazeem Olabintan and Akeem Olayiwola, for allegedly defrauding two motorcycle dealers of twelve Boxer motorcycles valued at ₦19 million.
Both suspects had introduced fake buyers under a false installment arrangement before diverting the motorcycles.
In Akure, two suspected burglars, Ogunjimi Blessing and Mayowa Alonge, were arrested after breaking into a residence and stealing electrical materials and a generator valued at ₦3.39 million.
A toy gun and a charm were also found in their possession.
Another suspect, identified as Adekugbe Moses, was arrested for allegedly defrauding an engineer of ₦10 million under the pretext of supplying laboratory equipment.
The Commissioner said the suspect later confessed to diverting the money for personal use.
The police also intercepted a blue Nissan Primera vehicle conveying seven stolen goats from Osun State.
Two suspects, Adewale Olafusi and Akinmuyiwa Tope, were arrested with the animals, leading to the subsequent arrest of two receivers, Usman Muritala and Ebenezer Akinnagbe, in Ondo town.
Lawal said all the suspects were in custody and would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
He commended residents for their cooperation and assured them of sustained protection through strategic intelligence gathering and community collaboration.
“The Command remains committed to ridding Ondo State of criminal elements and ensuring the safety of lives and property,” Lawal said.
Recovered exhibits include one pump-action gun, two locally-made pistols, expended cartridges, mobile phones, seven live goats, assorted electrical materials worth millions of naira, and other stolen property.