The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a bag allegedly used to collect ransom payments from the kitchen of a 67-year-old Fulani leader, Muhammadu Abdullai, the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, who was arrested alongside his eldest son over a string of kidnappings in parts of the state.
Abdullai denied any involvement in kidnapping activities but admitted that one of his sons, Bala Muhammadu, had previously been convicted and imprisoned for kidnapping. He said he believed Bala had abandoned crime after serving a five-year jail term.
Police investigations linked recent kidnappings in Ijebu Ode, Imodi, Irewon, Iwode, Okun Owa and neighbouring communities to Bala and his associates. Detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit reportedly recovered a ransom bag from Abdullai’s residence during a raid.
According to police sources, Bala and two of his brothers escaped through nearby bushes after being alerted to the presence of security operatives.
Abdullai told journalists that he had no knowledge of the recovered bag and maintained that he had never participated in any kidnapping. He confirmed that after Bala’s release from prison, he took him for medical treatment and encouraged him to stay away from crime.
His eldest son, Bello Muhammadu, who was also arrested, denied involvement in any criminal activity, insisting he only knew of Bala’s previous conviction.
Ogun State Police Command said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks in Ogun State. He credited the success to intelligence-led policing and support from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni.
The command assured residents that efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle criminal syndicates across the state would continue.
