A commercial motorcyclist, Benson Alaba, 45, has been arrested for his alleged role in the kidnapping of Mr. Omoniyi Samuel, a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
Alaba, who routinely conveyed the victim to his workplace, used his familiarity to spy on the victim’s movements and facilitate the abduction.
The kidnapping occurred on August 4, 2025, when Alaba visited the victim’s residence under the pretense of requesting a handset.
This visit was later confirmed to be a calculated ploy to study the victim’s activities and create an opening for the syndicate.
Shortly after his departure, other gang members moved in and abducted the lecturer.
The Ondo State Police Command arrested seven suspects in connection with the kidnapping, including Alaba and six other individuals who played different roles in the crime.
The investigation revealed that Ogungbemi Wasiu, 42, provided the Itel handset used to contact the victim’s family to demand a ransom of ₦5,000,000.
Other suspects, including Audu Shaibu, 25, Ismaila Abdullahi, 24, Nuru Bature, 18, Usman Baba, 20, and Yusuf Muhammed, 23, were linked to the physical execution of the kidnapping .
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, commended the Inspector General of Police for his continuous support, strategic guidance, and morale-boosting initiatives, which have been pivotal to the successes recorded in the Command’s crime-fighting efforts.
The Police Command warned against the dangers of disinformation and misinformation, urging the public to verify information from credible and official sources before dissemination.
The Command said it remainsed determined to dismantle kidnapping syndicates and protect the lives and property of all residents in Ondo State