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A major breakthrough has emerged in the Ogun State Police Command’s crackdown on kidnapping syndicates, following the recovery of a bag allegedly used to deliver ransom payments from the kitchen of the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, Abdullai Muhammadu.

Muhammadu, 67, who was recently arrested alongside his eldest son, Bello, has denied any involvement in kidnapping activities despite admitting that one of his sons, Bala, had previously been convicted and imprisoned for the crime.

The arrest followed an intensive investigation by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit into a series of abductions that had terrorised communities across Ijebu Ode, Imodi, Irewon, Iwode, Okun Owa and surrounding areas.

According to police sources, intelligence-led operations traced several kidnapping incidents to Bala Muhammadu, who is currently on the run after allegedly escaping arrest through a nearby bush path along with two of his brothers when security operatives stormed the family compound.

A police source disclosed that one of the bags used in the payment of ransom for a kidnap victim was recovered from the suspect’s family residence.

“After painstaking and intelligence investigation, one of the bags used in the payment of ransom for one of the victims was recovered in the father’s kitchen,” the source said.

The source further alleged that Bala was not the only family member involved in kidnapping activities, revealing that security agencies were also tracking two other brothers believed to be linked to the criminal network.

“There was an upsurge in kidnapping in the area after Bala was released from prison. He spent five years in prison for kidnapping,” the source added.

Responding to the allegations, Muhammadu maintained his innocence, insisting he had never participated in any criminal activity.

The Fulani leader, who said he had lived in Yorubaland for more than three decades and was honoured with the traditional title of Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode by the late Awujale of Ijebuland, stated that he was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the ransom bag.

“I don’t know anything about the bag that was found in my house. I have never kidnapped anybody in my life,” he said.

Muhammadu acknowledged that Bala had previously been jailed for kidnapping but claimed he believed his son had abandoned crime after his release from prison.

According to him, he personally took Bala to the hospital for treatment after his release because he appeared seriously ill and later encouraged him to embrace farming and cattle rearing.

“I thought he had turned a new leaf. I didn’t know that he was still into kidnapping,” Muhammadu said.

His eldest son, Bello, who was also arrested during the operation, similarly denied any involvement in criminal activities, insisting he was on his farm when police officers arrived at the family compound.

Bello described himself as a herder and said he knew only of Bala’s previous conviction, maintaining that neither he nor his father had any connection to kidnapping operations.

“If my father had known that Bala had returned to crime, he would have dealt with him himself. He does not encourage such things,” Bello stated.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command said the recent successes recorded against kidnappers and other violent criminals were made possible through enhanced support from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, IGP Olatunji Disu, particularly in the areas of tactical policing and intelligence-driven operations.

The Command’s spokesman, CSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what he described as a courageous and professional operation that led to the arrest and neutralisation of notorious suspects as well as the recovery of incriminating exhibits.

He assured residents that the police would sustain efforts to dismantle criminal syndicates operating across the state and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that could aid security operations.