Police Uncover Kidnappers’ Den in Abandoned Building, Arrest Suspects

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The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Epinmi Akoko, a community in the Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.

The discovery was made inside an abandoned, uncompleted building, hidden in a remote and forested part of the area, believed to have been used for holding abducted victims during ransom negotiations.

Two suspects, identified as Arohunmolase Idowu, 25, and Bada Tosin, 26—both natives of Epinmi Akoko—have been arrested in connection with the criminal operation.

According to the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence received at about 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2025.

The information led to the arrest of the first suspect, Arohunmolase Idowu, by operatives of the Epinmi Vigilante Group. Idowu, a resident of No. 14 Araromi Isalu Quarters in Epinmi Akoko, was found loitering suspiciously in the vicinity during odd hours and could not provide a convincing explanation for his movements.

Following preliminary interrogation, the police expanded the investigation. A joint team comprising officers from the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Isua, subsequently arrested the second suspect, Bada Tosin.

Both suspects then led law enforcement officers to an isolated structure concealed within the forest. There, officers discovered a deep underground pit fortified with burglary-proof reinforcements, suspected to have been used to imprison kidnap victims. The facility bore signs of intentional modification, raising strong suspicions about its role in prolonged abductions and ransom dealings.

During the raid, security operatives recovered a cache of weapons and other incriminating items from the site. These included two locally-made dane guns, four cutlasses, four axes, various charms, and other dangerous tools, all believed to be part of the criminal operations carried out from the location.

Commissioner Afolabi confirmed that the arrested suspects and all recovered materials have been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command for further investigation.

He assured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to tackling criminality and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.

Authorities praised the collaborative efforts between local vigilante groups and official security forces, noting that such synergy is essential to dismantling criminal networks and securing rural communities.


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