The Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly Codenamed Amotekun, has arrested a father and three of his sons for their alleged involvement in kidnapping activities in Oba-Akoko, rescuing a victim and recovering most of the ransom paid for his release.
The State Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday while parading 28 suspects arrested for various criminal offences across the state.
According to Adeleye, the operation led to the rescue of a kidnapping victim who had been abducted while travelling to Oba-Akoko. He explained that although the victim’s family paid ransom to secure his release, the kidnappers refused to free him and warned the family against reporting the incident to security agencies.
“The family eventually came to Amotekun after the kidnappers collected the ransom and still refused to release the victim. We immediately swung into action,” Adeleye said.
He revealed that investigations led operatives to a family allegedly involved in the crime, comprising a father and three sons who reportedly used cattle rearing as a cover for their criminal activities.
“In the course of the operation, our men came under attack, but we successfully rescued the victim. The kidnappers had tortured him and inflicted injuries on his head with knives and cutlasses,” he said.
The rescued victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while Amotekun operatives recovered over 75 per cent of the ransom, along with drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and materials allegedly used to blindfold the victim.
Those arrested in connection with the kidnapping were identified as Iliasu, 56, and his sons, Usman, 33, Wahab, 27, and Yakubu, 18.
Adeleye disclosed that one of the sons, believed to be the mastermind of the gang, had been on the Corps’ watchlist since 2024 over alleged kidnapping activities in the Ondo North Senatorial District.
“The eldest son fled the state for about two years after previous kidnapping incidents. We gathered that he recently returned and coordinated this latest operation,” he said.
Narrating his ordeal, the rescued victim, Mr. Oyebade Samuel, said he was attacked by four armed men after his machine broke down along the road in Oba-Akoko.
“I saw four Fulani men come out. They were carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks. They beat me and cut my head and body before taking me into the bush,” he recounted.
Samuel said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦40 million ransom before reducing it to ₦1.6 million, which his family eventually paid.
“My brother delivered the ₦1.6 million and some drinks to them, but after collecting everything, they still refused to release me. My brother then reported the matter to Amotekun and took them to where the ransom was dropped. The Amotekun men moved in immediately and rescued me,” he said.
Adeleye reiterated that the Corps does not encourage ransom payment and emphasized that all money recovered during the operation would be returned to the victim’s family.