Ondo security agency arrests father, 3 sons over alleged kidnapping

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, has arrested a father and three of his sons over their alleged involvement in kidnapping in Oba-Akoko, rescuing a victim and recovering a substantial part 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 offences across the state.

The suspects were identified as Iliasu, 56, and his sons, Usman, 33, Wahab, 27, and Yakubu, 18.

Adeleye said one of the sons, believed to be the mastermind of the gang, had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2024 over alleged kidnapping activities in Ondo North Senatorial District.

According to him, the victim was abducted while travelling to Oba-Akoko.

He said although the victim’s family paid a ransom to secure his release, the kidnappers refused to free him and warned the family against reporting the matter 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 said investigations led operatives to a family allegedly involved in the crime, comprising a father and his three sons, who reportedly used cattle rearing as a cover for their activities.

“During the operation, our men came under attack, but we successfully rescued the victim. The kidnappers tortured him and inflicted injuries on his head with knives and cutlasses,” he said.

According to him, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while operatives recovered more than 75 per cent of the ransom, as well as drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and materials allegedly used to blindfold him.

Narrating his ordeal, the rescued victim, Oyebade Samuel, said he was attacked by four armed men after his motorcycle broke down along the Oba-Akoko road.

“I saw four men come out carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks. They beat me and inflicted cuts on my head and body before taking me into the bush,” he said.

Samuel said the kidnappers initially demanded N40 million but later reduced the ransom to N1.6 million, which his family eventually paid.

Adeleye reiterated that the corps does not encourage ransom payments and said all the money recovered would be returned to the victim’s family.

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