How ‘okada’ rider aided kidnapping of Ondo lecturer – Police

The Ondo State Police Command has explained how a motorcyclist aided kidnappers to perpetuate abduction in the state.

Police detectives disclosed this while speaking on arrested seven suspected kidnappers of Omoniyi Samuel, a lecturer at the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.

According to the police, one of the abductors, aged 45 years, is the commercial motorcyclist, who routinely conveyed the victim to his workplace daily.

Vanguard gathered that their arrest followed a discreet, intelligence-driven operation by operatives of the Command, which uncovered the coordinated roles each suspect played in the crime.

It was learnt that the commercial motorcyclist used his familiarity to spy on the victim’s movements.

Police source said that “On 4th August 2025, he visited the lecturer’s residence without prior arrangement, under the pretence of requesting a handset.

“This was later confirmed to be a calculated ploy to study the victim’s activities and create an opening for the syndicate.”

Shortly after his departure, other gang members moved in and abducted the lecturer.

lt was gathered that ”one Wasiu, 42 years provided the Itel handset used to contact the victim’s family to demand a ransom of N5,000,000.

“Although he claimed the handset was lost on 2nd August 2025, he failed to report the loss to the police, a deliberate omission that aided the criminal enterprise.

“His role was critical in maintaining communication between the kidnappers and the victim’s relatives, thus facilitating the ransom negotiations.

“The investigation also linked Audu Shaibu (25 years), Ismaila Abdullahi (24 years), Nuru Bature (18 years), Usman Baba (20 years), and Yusuf Muhammed (23 years), all of Agopanu, Owo, to the physical execution of the kidnapping.

Eyewitness testimony confirmed that these five suspects, acting in concert with one Benson Alaba and under the operational facilitation of Wasiu, participated in forcibly abducting the victim and directly demanding the ransom from the family during the incident.

“The seamless coordination between Alaba’s surveillance, Wasiu’s communication support, and the aggressive role of the five field operatives clearly points to a well-organised kidnapping syndicate.”

Contacted the state police command spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka said that “the victim is currently receiving medical attention at the Adekunle Ajasin University Health Centre.