In a bold and coordinated operation, local hunters in Owo, the administrative headquarters of Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State, successfully apprehended two individuals suspected to be members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in the area.
According to eyewitness accounts and emerging viral footage, the suspects were captured in a remote forest believed to be a base of operations for the gang.
The hunters, acting on intelligence and tracking skills, reportedly raided the kidnappers’ hideout deep within the Owo forest on Friday. While several gang members managed to escape, two of them were subdued, captured, and brought into the town.
Items recovered at the scene include firearms, machetes, cutlasses, cans of beer, and energy drinks—believed to have been used to sustain the suspects during their criminal activities in the bush.
The recovery of weapons lends credence to suspicions that the group was actively engaged in criminal operations, particularly kidnapping for ransom—a crime that has seen a troubling rise across parts of Ondo State in recent times.
A local eyewitness, who preferred not to be named for security reasons, confirmed the account. “The hunters have been monitoring the area for a while due to repeated reports of suspicious movement and abductions. Yesterday, they stormed the camp in the forest. Some of the suspects escaped, but two were caught and brought into the community,” he said.
The dramatic moment of the arrest was captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media. The footage shows the suspects restrained and surrounded by the hunters, while being questioned about their identities and operations.
The video has sparked widespread reactions from residents, many of whom praised the hunters for their bravery and commitment to community safety.
In reaction to the development, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, acknowledged that the police had seen the video and confirmed that an official investigation is already underway. “I saw the video as well, and the command has commenced a thorough investigation into the incident,” Ayanlade stated.
He added that the police are working to verify the identities of the suspects and determine whether they are linked to any previously reported kidnapping cases in the region. He assured the public that the command would leave no stone unturned in uncovering the full extent of the gang’s operations.
The recent incident has reignited discussions around security in forested areas of Ondo State, particularly around the Owo axis, which has in the past experienced a number of high-profile criminal incidents, including kidnapping and armed attacks.
Many residents are now calling for stronger collaboration between security agencies and local vigilance groups to prevent further escalation of such crimes.
While the successful operation by the hunters has been hailed as a commendable act of community policing, authorities have cautioned against mob action and urged that all suspects be handed over to law enforcement for due process and prosecution in accordance with the law.
This development comes amid rising concerns over kidnapping and armed banditry in parts of the South-West region, prompting calls for improved community policing and intelligence sharing.