Police Arrest Five Over Abduction of Schoolchildren in Ondo

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested five suspects allegedly linked to the abduction of two schoolchildren in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad following an intelligence-led operation launched after the children were kidnapped and ransom reportedly paid for their release.

Police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, the victims  10-year-old Jehu and his five-year-old brother, Yohana  were abducted on May 12, 2026, while on their way to school in the Jerry Sawmill area of Ore.

Jimoh said the children’s father, Andrew Yohana, reported the incident to the police shortly after the abduction, prompting detectives to commence investigations immediately.

He explained that police investigations aided by technical intelligence and tracking analysis led operatives to the Alaba area of Ore, where two suspects identified as Taofeek Lukman, 23, and Blessing Saturday, 27, were first arrested.

Further investigations, according to the police, resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects identified as Peter Moses, 25; Sunday Isaac, 23; and Sanusi Dan Asabe, 37, who were allegedly members of the kidnapping syndicate.

The police said detectives recovered N251,000 suspected to be part of the ransom paid by the family before the children regained freedom.

Jimoh added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover more items connected to the crime.
He stated that the suspects had allegedly confessed to participating in the abduction and would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, commended the anti-kidnapping squad for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation.

Ohagwu also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state, assuring residents that protecting lives and property remains a top priority for the police.