The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper in Isua Akoko after a victim fought back and injured one of his captors during a daring escape attempt.
Police said the breakthrough followed a distress report that triggered a swift, intelligence-driven operation, leading to the rescue of the abducted victim and the capture of one suspect linked to the crime.
The command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the operation was carried out on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.
According to the police, the case was reported on April 10, 2026, after a resident, identified simply as Ahmadu, alerted officers at the Isua Division that two young men who travelled to Ipesi Akoko for cattle rearing failed to return together.
Acting promptly, operatives launched a search which led to the discovery that one of the men had been abducted by a three-man gang.
The rescued victim told investigators he was seized at night but resisted his captors, managing to strike one of them on the head during a struggle.
Leveraging intelligence obtained from the victim, police tracked the suspects to Obasanjo Motor Park in Isua Akoko, where a suspect bearing a visible head injury was arrested in the early hours of the following day.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to involvement in the abduction and was subsequently identified by the victim, who linked him to the injury sustained during the encounter.
The police added that the victim had been taken to a medical facility for treatment, while the suspect has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation and prosecution.
The command commended residents for providing timely information, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in combating crime.
It also reaffirmed its resolve to tackle kidnapping and other violent offences, urging the public to stay alert and continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies.