The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested five suspected kidnappers linked to the abduction of two schoolchildren in Ore, the headquarters of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The command stated that the suspects were arrested by operatives of its Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad following an intelligence-led operation carried out after the victims were kidnapped and ransom allegedly paid.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to him, the suspects are Taofeek Lukman, 23; Blessing Saturday, 27; Peter Moses, 25; Sunday Isaac, 23; and Sanusi Dan Asabe, 37.
Jimoh explained that the victims, Jehu, 10, and Yohana, 5, who are brothers, were abducted on their way to school in the Jerry Sawmill area of Ore on May 12, 2026.
He stated the children’s father, Andrew Yohana, reported the incident to the police at about 9:00 a.m., prompting an immediate investigation by detectives.
The statement read, “Police investigations, aided by technical intelligence and tracking analysis, led operatives to the Alaba area of Ore, where two suspects, Taofeek Lukman, 23, and Blessing Saturday, 27, were arrested.
“Further investigations uncovered three additional suspects identified as Peter Moses, 25; Sunday Isaac, 23; and Sanusi Dan Asabe, 37, all believed to be members of the criminal syndicate.”
Jimoh added that detectives recovered N251,000, suspected to be part of the ransom allegedly paid by the victims’ family, before the children regained freedom.
He noted that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional exhibits linked to the crime.
According to the command, the suspects have made confessional statements detailing their individual roles in the abduction and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Commending the operatives for the breakthrough, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, praised the professionalism and intelligence-driven approach adopted by the anti-kidnapping squad.
Ohagwu also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying the crackdown on kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
He assured residents that the protection of lives and property remained the command’s top priority.
