The Ondo State Police Command reported the arrest of 2,500 individuals along with the recovery of 105 firearms as part of an extensive security operation driven by intelligence across the region in 2025.
During a press briefing in Akure on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, shared the Command’s performance report for the past year.
Lawal indicated that the arrests encompassed serious offenses, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult activities, drug offenses, vandalism, and human trafficking, attributing the results to a strategy grounded in intelligence-led policing and robust community partnership.
“In 2025, the Ondo State Police Command apprehended 2,500 suspects across various offenses. This group includes 50 individuals for murder, 85 for kidnapping, 49 for armed robbery, 365 cult members, and 250 linked to drug- related crimes,” CP Lawal stated.
Additionally, he mentioned that the Command seized 92 vehicles and motorcycles, recovered 200 rounds of ammunition, identified 27 forged vehicle documents, and numerous other incriminating items, which disrupted criminal syndicates within and outside the state.
Lawal noted that when he took on his role, the security landscape was unstable, necessitating a thorough evaluation of crime trends in Ondo’s Northern, Central, and Southern districts.
He stated, “The security environment was quite turbulent when I began my tenure. We undertook a detailed assessment and implemented new methods. Currently, the public’s trust in the police has been reinstated, resulting in actionable intelligence that enhances our operational capabilities.”
The strategies executed by the Command, which include intelligence-driven policing, regular patrols, community collaboration, and partnerships with other agencies, have been pivotal in preventing the influx of criminal activities from adjacent states like Edo and Ekiti.
Among the notable successes highlighted by the Commissioner was the capture of all suspects implicated in the murder of two students from Adekunle Ajasin University, a case he described as pivotal in restoring public confidence.
“The police rescued 40 Ghanaian nationals who were victims of trafficking in Akure, apprehended an illegal arms manufacturer in Ile-Oluji, dismantled a notorious kidnapping and ritual gang in Ogbese, and arrested individuals associated with ritual-related crimes involving an OAUSTECH student in Okitipupa.
Furthermore, numerous repentant cult members voluntarily abandoned cult activities, surrendering 36 assorted firearms. Rival cult factions in Ondo City were reconciled through a significant peace process facilitated by the police Command.
“Such peace initiatives have helped to prevent retaliatory attacks and dramatically reduced cult violence, particularly during critical periods such as 7/7 and 8/8,” Lawal remarked.
The Commissioner also disclosed that a baby factory was discovered in Ore, leading to the rescue of pregnant adolescents and infants, the dismantling of sex-trafficking operations, and the recovery of a stolen child during a collaborative effort spanning Ondo, Delta, and Anambra states.
He added that individuals responsible for incest and the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl were arrested and that all rescued individuals received medical, psychological, and rehabilitation assistance through the police Gender Desk.
Lawal emphasized that the Command amplified its community policing efforts across all 18 local government areas by closely cooperating with traditional authorities, youth organizations, vigilante groups, and other security entities.
On enhancing officer capabilities, he noted that personnel received special training in areas such as Gender-Based Violence, advanced intelligence gathering, and community safety collaboration, which included training for members of the Owo Security Network.
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