Police in Ondo have uncovered and foiled a staged kidnapping incident, leading to the arrest of the purported victim and one of his accomplices.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement that the crime took place in Akure.
Police said: “On 5th July, 2026, one Mrs. Iyabo of Oda Road, Akure, reported to the Police that her 33-year-old son, Olawale Sikiru, of St. Luke Street, Akure, had allegedly been kidnapped while travelling to Igbara-Oke for work by unknown persons.
“Following the report, the command immediately commenced a coordinated investigation, deploying intelligence assets and conducting forensic analysis of the telephone number used by the suspects to demand a ransom of ₦1,000,000 from the victim’s family.
“The painstaking investigation yielded positive results on 7th July, 2026, when detectives arrested Olawale Sikiru, who was discovered to have orchestrated his own kidnapping.
“Investigations revealed that he deliberately staged the abduction and succeeded in collecting ₦50,000 as part of the ransom paid by his family for his purported release.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Agbelusi Ayomide, a 23-year-old man who allegedly conspired with the suspect and harboured him in his residence while the fraudulent kidnapping plot was being executed.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate believed to have participated in the criminal act, while the arrested suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”
State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, commended the professionalism and diligence of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, whose intelligence-driven investigation exposed the deception.
He warned members of the public against engaging in or aiding staged kidnappings or any form of criminal conspiracy, stressing that such acts divert critical security resources, inflict emotional and financial hardship on families, and attract severe legal consequences.
The command reassured the public of its commitment to combating all forms of criminality through intelligence-led policing and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information that will assist security agencies in safeguarding lives and property across the state.
