The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a four-man criminal syndicate accused of terrorising the Ogbese area through armed robbery, kidnapping, and ritual activities.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, the suspects were apprehended after intelligence revealed they had gathered at a location to obtain charms used to fortify themselves before carrying out further attacks. Acting on this information, a tactical police team stormed their hideout and arrested them.
Ayanlade said the suspects — led by Ifeoluwa Julius — had long been on the command’s watchlist for various violent crimes. He noted that the operation was coordinated by the Special Weapons and Tactics unit, which moved swiftly based on credible intelligence.
During the arrest, police recovered an expended cartridge, fetish items, and a blood-stained cloth. According to the command, the recovered items aligned with the suspects’ confessions. Julius reportedly admitted to being a ritualist and confirmed that he and his gang had been involved in several kidnapping incidents around Ogbese. He also disclosed that their recent trip was specifically to acquire more charms to strengthen themselves for future criminal activities.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to making Ondo State unsafe for criminals and assured residents of continued efforts to protect lives and property.
In recent operations, the command also arrested three suspected kidnappers following intelligence reports, further reinforcing its clampdown on criminal activities across the state.
