The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended two men, Mohammed Sheu and Abubakar Umar, in connection with the abduction and murder of Alaba Abe, a member of the All Progressives Congress in Akoko-South Local Government Area.
Abe, who served as the coordinator for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization in Akoko South-West, was kidnapped and killed at his residence in Supare Akoko in April 2024 during preparations for the APC governorship primary.
According to The PUNCH, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, revealed that the arrests were made by the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command.
“On November 14, 2024, around 3:20 pm, our operatives intercepted a Hiace bus during a stop-and-search operation at Ikare Junction,” Odunlami disclosed.
“One of the passengers, identified as Mohammed Sheu, exhibited suspicious behavior, prompting officers to isolate him for questioning. During this process, a voice note on his phone revealed a conversation with an accomplice, who remains at large.”
According to the PPRO, the voice note contained Sheu’s inquiry about potential kidnapping opportunities due to financial difficulties.
This led to his detention and further interrogation, during which he confessed to involvement in multiple crimes, including kidnapping and robbery in Kogi, Niger, Akoko, Ifon, Ipele, and Owo.
Odunlami explained the group’s modus operandi, saying, “Their operations involve identifying victims’ homes, abducting them, and taking them into the bush, where they demand ransoms.”
Further investigations resulted in the arrest of another suspect, 24-year-old Abubakar Umar, who admitted to being part of the same criminal gang.
Both suspects confessed to their involvement in the abduction and murder of Alaba Abe in April and the September kidnapping of another individual from a popular hotel in Owo.
The police assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the gang. “We are committed to bringing all culprits to justice and ensuring the safety of residents in the state,” Odunlami affirmed.
