The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and rescued a victim in Isua Akoko, Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The victim was reportedly abducted by three armed men while working on a farm but managed to escape after struggling with his attackers and injuring one of them on the head during the incident.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the case is being handled by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit for further investigation.

Jimoh said a report was initially lodged by one Ahmadu at the Isua Division after a man failed to return home from a cattle-rearing outing in Ipesi Akoko, prompting a coordinated intelligence-led operation.

He added that acting on information provided by the victim, police operatives tracked and arrested a suspect at Obasanjo Motor Park, where the individual was found with a visible head injury consistent with the victim’s account.

The police spokesperson said the suspect later confessed to being part of the kidnapping gang and was identified by the victim during questioning.

The victim has since been taken to hospital for medical treatment, while the suspect has been transferred to the anti-kidnapping unit and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

In a related development, residents of Imoga Community had earlier arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Ismaila Ibrahim, in the nearby Akoko Edo Local Government Area after he was reportedly identified by an escaped victim in Ibillo.