A major breakthrough in the investigation of a series of kidnappings that have unsettled communities across Ogun State has placed a prominent Fulani community leader under intense scrutiny after police reportedly recovered a ransom bag from his residence during a security operation.
The development followed the arrest of 67-year-old Muhammadu Abdullai, the Seriki Fulani and leader of the Fulani community in Ijebu Ode, alongside one of his sons, as security agencies intensified efforts to unravel a network allegedly behind several abductions in the Ijebu axis.
Although the traditional leader has strongly denied involvement in any criminal activity, he admitted knowing that one of his sons, Bala Muhammadu, had previously served a prison sentence for kidnapping.
He, however, maintained that he believed the son had abandoned crime and embraced a lawful life after his release from prison.
The controversy intensified after investigators reportedly recovered one of the bags allegedly used to collect ransom payments from victims’ families inside the Fulani leader’s kitchen.
Security sources said the discovery was made during a coordinated operation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
According to investigators, multiple kidnapping incidents reported in communities including Ijebu Ode, Imodi, Irewon, Iwode and Okun Owa were allegedly traced to Bala Muhammadu, who had recently completed a five-year jail term for a similar offence.
Police sources disclosed that security operatives moved into the family compound after establishing links between the suspect and recent abduction cases.
However, Bala and two of his brothers reportedly escaped through nearby bushes after receiving warnings about the presence of security personnel in the area.
A source familiar with the investigation said the recovery of the ransom bag represented a significant lead in the ongoing operation.
“After painstaking intelligence work, one of the bags allegedly used for ransom collection was recovered from the father’s kitchen. By the time operatives arrived, some of the suspects had already fled,” the source said.
The source further alleged that more members of the family could be connected to the criminal network and that security agencies remain on their trail.
Speaking with journalists, Abdullai insisted that he had never participated in kidnapping and had no knowledge of the bag allegedly recovered from his home.
The Fulani leader, who said he has lived in Yorubaland for more than three decades and was honoured with the title of Seriki Fulani by the late Awujale of Ijebuland, maintained that he had always encouraged his children to live responsibly.
“I know Bala was arrested for kidnapping and sent to prison. When he returned, he was very sick and weak. I took him to the hospital and paid for his treatment because I believed he had changed,” he said.
“I thought he was now concentrating on farming and cattle rearing. I did not know he was still involved in crime.”
Abdullai’s eldest son, Bello Muhammadu, who was also arrested during the operation, similarly denied any involvement in kidnapping.
According to him, he was working on his farm when the police arrived and only returned after being contacted by his father.
“If my father knew Bala had returned to kidnapping, he would never support him,” Bello said.
The Ogun State Police Command said the operation formed part of a broader strategy to combat kidnapping and violent crimes across the state.
Police spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, attributed recent operational successes to intelligence-driven policing and support from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as well as the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.
He said the successful operation demonstrated the commitment of security agencies to dismantling criminal syndicates and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
“The command remains committed to tracking down all suspects connected to these crimes and ensuring they face justice,” he stated.
The police also appealed to residents to continue providing credible and timely information capable of assisting ongoing investigations and crime prevention efforts.
As the manhunt for the fleeing suspects intensifies, the case has sent shockwaves across Ogun communities, raising fresh concerns about the sophistication of kidnapping networks and the challenges facing security agencies in curbing violent crimes.
For now, investigators are racing to unravel the full extent of the alleged criminal operation, while residents await answers in a case that has gripped the state and exposed the lingering threat posed by organised kidnapping gangs.
