Security
Crime Prevention In Ondo: Police Score Big Against Kidnappers, Cultists, Armed Gangs
By Samuel Sunday
The Ondo State Police Command is pushing back against crime and reshaping the security narrative in 2026, recording a string of operational successes despite persistent threats across the State.
Public attention often focuses on asking questions about insecurity, recent developments show the command actively dismantling criminal networks and restoring confidence through decisive, intelligence-led policing.
Across Ondo State, officers are confronting familiar threats kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and violent attacks but they are not standing still. The Command has intensified proactive policing, strengthened intelligence gathering, and improved rapid response systems. Regular coordination with divisional officers and tactical units has sharpened operations, while closer ties with communities are helping officers detect and disrupt crime earlier.
In February, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested Abubakar Sindiku and Oliver Okoh in separate intelligence-driven operations at Sabo-Sango and Ilado Community.
Investigators linked both suspects to a kidnapping network, where they played reconnaissance and logistics roles. Officers also recovered motorcycles used to trail potential victims, disrupting planned attacks.
Days later, the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad struck again. Acting on credible intelligence, officers apprehended two suspected kidnappers, Okotie and Michael, in Ayede Community, Akure North. The team recovered a single-barrel rifle and eighteen live cartridges, and further investigations connected the suspects to ongoing kidnapping activities in the area.
The Command expanded its momentum with a major breakthrough along Liberty Avenue in Ilu-Abo. Officers arrested four suspects Abdullahi Ismaila, Babanyara Japi, Babuga Abubakar, and Adama Usman and recovered ₦1.4 million believed to be ransom money. The victim identified the suspects, reinforcing the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence operations.
In a separate operation, officers tracked down Abdullahi Lawal, a wanted kidnapping ringleader tied to a 2025 abduction case in Ikare-Akoko. He had previously evaded arrest, but sustained intelligence work led to his capture, showing the Command’s persistence in pursuing fugitives over time.
The crackdown on cultism has also gained ground. The Special Anti-Cultism Squad arrested Akinwale Tomiwa, known as “Bella,” a suspected leader of the Eiye confraternity operating around Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. Authorities linked him to the murder of Ojo Peter and ongoing cult clashes, and his arrest marks a step toward stabilizing the area.
In March, a coordinated joint security raid involving the Police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, and Amotekun Corps led to the arrest of ninety-nine suspects across multiple hotspots. The operation targeted areas linked to robbery, cultism, and burglary, with officers recovering several incriminating exhibits.
Between January and March 2026, the Command arrested 286 suspects for offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism, and illegal firearm possession. This includes 30 suspected kidnappers, 17 armed robbery suspects, and 41 suspected cultists figures that highlight the scale of enforcement and operational reach.
The Command has also handled high-profile cases, including the arrest of suspects linked to the killing of two students of Adekunle Ajasin University. Swift investigative action helped calm public concern and reinforced trust in law enforcement efforts.
Beyond arrests, the Command is deepening community policing. Officers are working closely with traditional rulers, youth groups, and vigilante networks to strengthen intelligence flow and early warning systems. This approach is improving response time and preventing crimes before they escalate.
These results show a Command actively working, not reacting. While challenges remain, the evidence points to consistent progress criminal networks are being disrupted, suspects are being brought to justice, and communities are becoming safer.
A balanced view of security in Ondo State must acknowledge both the threats and the measurable gains. The ongoing efforts of the Police Command demonstrate that with strategy, persistence, and community cooperation, meaningful progress in the fight against crime is already taking shape.