Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of two schoolchildren in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, identified as Jehu, 10, and Yohana, 5, were reportedly abducted while on their way to school in the Sawmill area of Ore.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the children’s father, Andrew Yohana, reported the incident at the Ore Police Station, prompting the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad to launch an intelligence-driven operation.
The investigation led to the arrest of two suspects, Taofeek Lukman, 23, and Blessing Saturday, 27, in the Alaba area of Ore, while three other suspects — Peter Moses, 25; Sunday Isaac, 23; and Sanusi Dan Asabe, 37 — were later apprehended during follow-up operations.
Police recovered N261,000 suspected to be part of the ransom paid by the victims’ family, as well as an unregistered motorcycle allegedly used during the operation.
DSP Jimoh disclosed that the suspects had made confessional statements and would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, commended the operatives for their efforts and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across Ondo State.
