Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, have arrested a father and his three sons for allegedly operating a kidnapping syndicate in Oba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The suspects were among 28 persons paraded by the Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, at the command headquarters in Akure on Tuesday.

Adeleye said the suspects abducted a victim who was travelling to Oba-Akoko. He said that although the victim’s family paid the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, the suspects refused to release him and warned the family against reporting the incident to security agencies.

According to the commander, the family later alerted Amotekun after the kidnappers failed to free the victim, prompting the corps to launch a rescue operation.

He revealed that intelligence gathering led operatives to a family allegedly involved in the crime, comprising a 56-year-old father and his three sons, who reportedly disguised themselves as cattle rearers while carrying out kidnapping activities.

Adeleye disclosed that Amotekun operatives came under attack during the operation but overpowered the suspects and rescued the victim, who had sustained multiple machete and knife injuries allegedly inflicted during his captivity.

He added that cash, drugs, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and other items allegedly used by the suspects were recovered.

The commander further revealed that one of the suspects, believed to be the gang leader, had been on the corps’ watchlist since 2024 over his alleged involvement in a series of kidnapping incidents across the Northern Senatorial District of the state.

According to him, the suspect fled the state after previous operations but recently returned and allegedly coordinated the latest abduction.

Speaking on his ordeal, the rescued victim, Oyebade Samuel, said he was attacked after his vehicle developed a mechanical fault along the Oba-Akoko Road.

He alleged that four armed men emerged from the bush carrying guns, cutlasses and sticks, beat him, inflicted severe injuries on him and dragged him into the forest.

According to Samuel, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦40 million before reducing the ransom to ₦1.6 million, which his family eventually paid.

He further revealed that his brother delivered the money and other items demanded by the kidnappers, but the suspects still refused to release him.

He said the matter was subsequently reported to Amotekun, whose operatives tracked the suspects to the ransom collection point, arrested them and rescued him. (Channels TV, but headline reworked)