Ondo State has been thrown into tension following two separate kidnapping incidents that have rattled residents and heightened security concerns.
In the first incident, police operatives have arrested seven suspects in connection with the abduction of Mr. Omoniyi, a lecturer and faculty officer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), on August 4, 2025.
The suspects include 45-year-old commercial motorcyclist Benson Alaba, alleged to have monitored the victim’s movements and lured him into the gang’s trap. Also in custody is Ogungbemi Wasiu, 42, who allegedly supplied the handset used to demand ransom from the victim’s family. Other arrested gang members are Audu Shaibu (25), Ismaila Abdullahi (24), Nuru Bature (18), Usman Baba (20) and Yusuf Muhammed (23).
Police investigations revealed that the trusted motorcyclist had frequently conveyed the lecturer to work and visited his home on the day of the abduction under the guise of borrowing a phone. The gang allegedly demanded between ₦5 million and ₦7 million before the lecturer’s release. The victim is currently receiving treatment at the university’s health centre.
Meanwhile, in a separate attack on the night of August 14, suspected kidnappers stormed Ayede Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area, killing a 34-year-old man identified as Okudili Okoro and abducting a woman, Mrs. Orogun. Witnesses said the gunmen, numbering about 10, arrived in unregistered vehicles and shot sporadically before whisking the victim away.
Ondo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the assailants, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information to aid investigations.
Authorities have also warned against spreading unverified information, stressing the importance of relying on official security updates.