Sam Philip
Police have rescued 20 young boys and girls from the captivity of suspects who engaged in ponzi scam.
Led by one Sakariya Sadiq, 26 years old man, the police described the arrest of the victims as being
involved in a case of deprivation of liberty and fraud.
The state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed that some parents in Osun and Oyo states lodged complaints about the disappearance of the children who left home for Akure, Ondo State capital for a job since November 2024 and had not returned home.
This surveillance team of the state command on April 24, 2025 swung into action and through intelligence, they were able to track the missing children to a residence in Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Police Commissioner, “On April 24, 2025, the Command Surveillance team, swung into action, and through intelligence led policing traced the people held hostage, to a residence at Oba-Ile in Akure.
“During the operation, one Sakariya Sadiq was discovered to be the prime suspect involved in the alleged criminal activities.”
He disclosed that the operation led to the rescue of 20 victims held hostage by the said suspect at the residence in Oba-Ile.
He gave the names of the rescued victims as Rafiu Kehinde ‘m’, Adebayo Nafisat ‘f’, Mohammed Aishat ‘f’, Jesujuwon Osuntoki ‘m’, Mustapha Gbolahan ‘m’, ibukun Samuel ‘m’, Gbolahan Wasiu ‘m’, Aminu Ifasina ‘m’, Mohammed Sheifff ‘m’, and Adebayo Rohemat ‘f’.
Others are Saheed Ibrahim ‘m’, Ibrahim Adebayo ‘m’, Adebayo Sukurat ‘f’, Olawoyi Wasilat ‘f’, Sholagberu Shakirat ‘f’, Adeyemi Skukurat ‘f’, Basari Saadiqq ‘m’, and Raji Taofeek ‘m’.
According to the Police Commissioner, the victims were allegedly lured into joining a Ponzi scheme called “Quest International Company” under false promises of profit.
Each victim was asked to pay N1.5m and also instructed to refer two others to the scheme as criteria to become a member of the group, after which they were denied access to their relatives.
According to the Mr. Afolabi, in the confessional statement of the suspect, he said the suspect claimed that the money is for the victims’ Chi-pendants, Bio-Discs and accommodation.
The Commissioner of Police, however, promised that the suspect would be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation.
He said efforts were also in progress to reunite the victims with their families.
In the same vein, a syndicate that specialized in stealing vehicles from Ondo State and selling same in other states.
One Afolabi Emmanuel, 32, was arrested for stealing a Toyota Camry in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State.
Through car tracker, he was trailed to Kogi State where the car was recovered.
When arrested and interrogated Emmanuel was said to have confessed to the crime. He told the police about his past escapades.
He revealed to them how he used to steal vehicles from Ondo and drive them to Gboko, Benue State.
The major receiver of the stolen vehicles, one Valentine Ezekiel was arrested.
Based on his confessions, the team of policemen head to Ogun State to recover three other vehicles earlier carted away by the same suspect.
However, the state Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi appreciated the people of the state for cooperating with the police by giving the information at the right time to combat crimes in the state.
He, therefore, advised vehicle owners across the state to endeavour to procure pedal lock or install tracker in the vehicles to prevent them from being stolen.