By Bukola Olamona

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Iyabode Oluwafemi, who allegedly lured unsuspecting job seekers and defrauded them of over ₦250 million under the pretext of securing them government employment.

Parading the suspect alongside other criminal elements at a press briefing in Akure, the State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, said the arrest was part of the Command’s renewed clampdown on criminal syndicates operating across the state.

According to the CP, preliminary investigations revealed that Oluwafemi promised her victims lucrative job placements in ministries, departments, and agencies before disappearing with their hard-earned money. She is currently in police custody and will face charges upon the conclusion of the investigation.

In another operation, the Command dismantled a three-man vehicle theft syndicate specialising in stealing cars using fabricated keys. The suspects—Temidayo Folajimi, Rotimi Akinsanoye, and Waheed Adekanmbi—were arrested in Akure following intelligence reports.

Afolabi explained that Akinsanoye was responsible for stealing the cars, which he handed over to Folajimi, who then transported them to Adekanmbi, a dealer in auto spare parts at the Owode Onirin market in Lagos. Adekanmbi allegedly dismantled the stolen vehicles and sold them in parts. Two vehicles were recovered intact, while five others had been dismantled and sold off.

Also paraded were two suspected armed robbers, Dele Jacob and Idowu Dada, who specialised in stealing building materials and household items. The suspects were reportedly caught red-handed removing items from a residential building on the outskirts of Akure.

Items recovered from them include generators, plasma television sets, motor parts, gas cookers, cable wires, various mobile phones, and dangerous weapons believed to have been used during their criminal operations.

In another breakthrough, the police arrested a suspected serial killer, Babalola Daniel, who confessed to murdering five individuals, including a close friend, for the purpose of stealing their motorcycles.

Shocking revelations emerged during his confession, as Daniel admitted that, apart from selling the stolen motorcycles, he also sold the body parts of some victims to herbalists for ritual purposes. The said herbalists, believed to be involved in the heinous act, have also been apprehended and are currently in police custody.

In a separate incident, the Command rescued 20 individuals who had been held hostage in a building located in Oba-Ile, a suburb of Akure. The victims were allegedly tricked into joining a fraudulent investment scheme known as “Quest International Company.”

The scheme, police said, operated under the guise of being a legitimate business offering massive returns on investments. Each victim was required to pay ₦1.5 million and to recruit two additional persons into the scheme. Once inside, they were reportedly detained and denied exit until they brought in new recruits.

The prime suspect behind the Ponzi operation, identified as Sakariya Sadiq, has been arrested and will be prosecuted after investigations are completed.

Reassuring the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to rid the state of criminal elements, the Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities promptly. He emphasised that the fight against crime in Ondo State would be pursued with renewed vigour and zero tolerance for lawlessness.