Men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army have arrested two persons over alleged kidnapping activity in Akunnu Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Major Njoka Irabor on Thursday.
According to the statement, the suspected kidnapper was arrested while making a move to collect ransom from the family of a 10-year-old boy who had earlier been abducted by the hoodlums, while the other suspect was caught giving information to the bandits.
The statement read, “In an effort to sustain its operational activities, while maintaining maximum security to decimate kidnappers and other criminal elements within its Area of Responsibility, troops of 32 Brigade Nigerian Army deployed on operation Fast Strike Squad at Forward Operating Base Auga, on June 3, 2025, captured a suspected kidnapper and rescued one kidnapped victim.
“The operation was carried out following credible information received from locals about a family making plans to pay ransom to kidnappers around Sabon Hanya, along the road Aiyere – Kabba in Ondo State. Troops swiftly laid an ambush along the route that the kidnappers prescribed for those to deliver the ransom.
“Consequently, troops captured one of the kidnappers and rescued a kidnapped victim, aged 10.
“The victim has been in the kidnappers’ custody for three days. However, the suspected kidnapper sustained injury during the operation.
“Relatedly, in a follow up operation on 4 June 2025, troops arrested one Mr Abubakar (aka Maude), a suspected informant stationed around Auga in Akoko South East LGA of Ondo State. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect is a member of a kidnapping syndicate, placed in the area to monitor the movement and activities of troops and inform members of his syndicate accordingly.”
Irabor further stated that the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate security agency for onward prosecution.
“The suspects are presently in our custody for further interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution,” he said.
He added that the Commander 32 Brigade, Brigadier-General Justin Ifeanyi, had implored the people of the state to always avail the troops with credible information on the movement and activities of criminals and unknown persons within their neighbourhood, “as this would enhance the capacity of troops in conducting operations with precision and further stem the tide of criminals within 32 Brigade.”