The Ondo State Police Command has reported the arrest of 2,500 criminal suspects and the recovery of 105 firearms, along with other dangerous items, following a year-long intelligence-led security operation across the state in 2025.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, disclosed the figures during a New Year press briefing in Akure, presenting the Command’s operational scorecard for the year.
He noted that the arrests spanned major offences, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, drug-related crimes, vandalism, and human trafficking.
In his statement, CP Lawal said:
“In 2025 alone, the Ondo State Police Command arrested 2,500 suspects for various crimes.
”These include 50 murder suspects, 85 kidnappers, 49 armed robbers, 365 cultists, and 250 suspects linked to hard drugs, among others.”
The Command also recovered 92 vehicles and motorcycles, 200 rounds of ammunition, 27 forged vehicle documents, and other incriminating items, disrupting criminal networks operating in and around Ondo State.
Lawal highlighted that upon assuming office, the state’s security situation was volatile.
Through strategic intelligence-led policing, visibility patrols, community engagement, and inter-agency collaboration, the Police restored public confidence and strengthened actionable intelligence.
Key achievements of the Ondo police in 2025 included the arresting suspects involved in the killing of two Adekunle Ajasin University students, a landmark case in public trust.
The command also rescue 40 trafficked Ghanaian nationals in Akure, arrested an illegal arms manufacturer in Ile-Oluji.
It also dismantled a notorious kidnapping and ritual gang in Ogbese, arrested suspects linked to ritual-related incidents involving a student of OAUSTECH, Okitipupa.
The command facilitated voluntary renunciation of cultism, with 36 arms surrendered and rival cult groups reconciled through historic peace initiatives, reducing cult-related violence, especially during 7/7 and 8/8 periods among others.
