Ondo: Suspected armed robber, kidnapper arrested while attempting to withdraw ransom from POS

Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and kidnapper, identified as Godspower Cletus, while attempting to withdraw ransom payment from a POS operator in Akure, the state capital.
The State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Olayinka Ayanlade, who disclosed this to newsmen in Akure, said the suspect was nabbed while trying to withdraw money from the victim’s account through POS terminal.
According to Ayanlade, Cletus invaded the house of the victim, Mrs. Farimoyo Endurance in Odudu Community, Akure, in Akure North local government area of the state.
The suspect was said to have held the victim at gunpoint, dispossessing her of some valuables, including her phone, goods.
It was gathered that the suspect, Cletus, allegedly forced Endurance to call her husband, demanding for the sum of N5m as ransom before the release of the woman.
The husband, however, reportedly transferred the sum of N1m into his wife’s account, and the suspect had seized the ATM before fleeing the victim’s residence.
The PPRO said luck ran against the suspect when detectives from the command who had been trailing the suspect tracked him to a POS point while trying to withdraw the ransom money.
He was subsequently arrested and, upon interrogation, voluntarily confessed to the crime.
Police investigations are ongoing to determine whether he acted alone or is linked to other similar incidents in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, commended the swift response of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, noting that the arrest reflects the Command’s improved operational capacity and proactive crime-fighting strategy.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant during the festive season and to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The PPRO said: “the Command reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of all residents, particularly during the festive season and beyond.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report any suspicious activities to ensure collective protection and peace.”