The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a four-man criminal syndicate accused of terrorising the Ogbese area with armed robberies, kidnappings, and ritual-related activities.
In a statement released on Monday, the State Police Command’s Spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspects were apprehended after intelligence reports revealed they had converged at a location to obtain charms believed to fortify them for further crimes.
Acting on the tip-off, a tactical police squad stormed their hideout and effected the arrests.
Ayanlade 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.”
Recovered items including an expended cartridge, fetish materials, and a blood-stained cloth, were said to corroborate the suspects’ confessions.
According to Ayanlade, the gang leader, Ifeoluwa Julius, admitted to being a ritualist and confirmed their involvement in several kidnapping operations within Ogbese.
“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.
Ayanlade affirmed that the command remains committed to ridding the state of criminal elements and ensuring the safety of residents.
The latest arrests add to a series of recent breakthroughs by the command. Just last Wednesday, The PUNCH reported the capture of three suspected kidnappers, Abayomi Fayankinu, Felix Orka, and Abdullahi Ibrahim, by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad following credible intelligence.
