Ondo State Police have arrested a suspect over the kidnapping of tipper driver Tobi Oluwatuyi along the Akure–Owo Road.
Security agencies have launched a joint operation to rescue the victim and track the abductors.
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the abduction of a tipper driver, identified as Tobi Abdulmalik Oluwatuyi.
Oluwatuyi was reportedly kidnapped on Friday morning by gunmen at Ilu-Abo, along the Akure–Owo Expressway in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, told journalists on Saturday that security operatives acted swiftly after the incident.
“Yes, it is true that a tipper driver was kidnapped yesterday while his motor boy escaped. Meanwhile, we made an arrest that same day,” Ayanlade said, adding that efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the gang.
The Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, also confirmed the incident and said his operatives had begun a large-scale search for the victim.
“We are combing the forest and have blocked the routes leading to Ise in Ekiti to stop the kidnappers from escaping. We are determined to rescue the victim,” he said.
According to the vehicle’s owner, Mr. Monday Ayesoro, the incident happened around 6 a.m. when the truck developed a fault. He explained that while the driver was trying to fix the vehicle, armed men suddenly appeared from the nearby bushes and forced him into the forest.
He said the driver’s assistant, popularly known as the motor boy, narrowly escaped and alerted residents and security agencies, leading to the immediate launch of a rescue operation.
Security operatives from the police and Amotekun have since intensified joint patrols in the area to ensure the victim’s safe release and prevent further attacks along the busy highway.
