…recover N800,000k, cigarettes,
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly staging his own abduction to extort ransom from his family.
Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade said in a statement on Tuesday that the arrest underscores the command’s renewed drive to curb staged crimes and extortion schemes across the state.
Ayanlade explained that operatives of the Ogbese Division, working with the Oodua Peoples Congress, local hunters and vigilantes, intercepted two suspects during a routine patrol around the Kashimola/Agunla Forest.
The men were found with N800,000, a roll of Benson cigarettes and a bottle of Aromatic Schnapps — items that raised immediate suspicion.
During interrogation, the suspects claimed the money was ransom meant for the release of their younger brother, Mathew Ekele, whom they said had been kidnapped.
Acting on the claim, the police set up a sting operation to arrest anyone who attempted to pick up the alleged ransom.
“During the operation, the team intercepted a motorcycle conveying John Peter, 30, and James Peter, both of Igbodudu Camp via Daada Ala,” the statement said.
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Ayanlade said one individual allegedly arrived at the designated spot to collect the ransom and was promptly arrested.
“But, further investigation revealed a surprising twist: the supposed kidnap victim had orchestrated the entire scheme.
“Police later traced and arrested Mathew Ekele in a nearby bush along Ogbese Road, where he had taken position to collect the ransom after pretending to have been abducted. His motorcycle was also recovered as evidence,” it further read.
Ayanlade lauded the success of the operation, crediting it to intelligence-led policing backed by the strategic leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, whose support, he said, continues to strengthen police operations nationwide.
The command, however, called on the residents of the state to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, noting that timely information is crucial in preventing criminals from deceiving families through staged kidnappings.
The police reiterated their commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring the public that all forms of criminality will be tackled decisively across the state.
