THE Ondo State Police Command on Monday announced the arrest of a four-man syndicate terrorising the Ogbese area of the state and suspected of carrying out a series of armed robberies, kidnappings, and ritual offences.
We learnt from a Monday statement by the command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, that the suspects were arrested following intelligence indicating that they had gathered at a location where they procure charms to fortify themselves.
Acting on the intelligence, Ayanlade noted that a tactical police team swooped on the suspects at their hideout.
He stated, The Ondo State Police Command has achieved a major operational milestone with the arrest of Ifeoluwa Julius and three members of his gang, all residents of Ogbese town, who have been implicated in a series of kidnapping, armed robbery, and ritual-related offences.
This group had long remained on the command’s watchlist due to mounting intelligence linking them to violent criminal activities within the area. Further intelligence revealed that the suspects had recently returned from a location where they procured criminal charms intended to fortify themselves for future criminal undertakings.
Acting promptly on this credible intelligence, operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics unit launched a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation on the outskirts of Ogbese town. This precise and strategic approach led to the successful arrest of the four suspects, demonstrating the Command’s resolve to dismantle emerging criminal threats proactively.
Ayanlade noted that during the arrest, exhibits such as an expended cartridge, fetish items, and a blood-stained cloth were recovered from the suspects.
These recoveries aligned with the suspects’ subsequent confessions. During interrogation, Ifeoluwa Julius openly admitted to being a ritualist and confirmed, along with his gang members, their involvement in multiple kidnapping incidents within the Ogbese area.
He further disclosed that their recent trip was deliberately undertaken to acquire additional criminal fortifications to enhance their capacity for further nefarious activities, the PPRO added.
He concluded that the command was committed to making the state uninhabitable for criminal elements while ensuring the safety of lives and property.
The Ondo State Police Command has, in recent times, clamped down on criminal-minded individuals.
We reported last Wednesday that the command arrested three suspected kidnappers identified as Abayomi Fayankinu of Okada Area, Edo State; Felix Orka of Ugbogi Area, Edo State; and Abdullahi Ibrahim.
Ayanlade had said that the arrests were made by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad after receiving credible intelligence.
