A gang of three suspected kidnappers of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) staff member, Omoniyi Eleyinmi, has been arrested while allegedly sharing ransom money in a forest in Ondo State.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended in the early hours of Monday in Ago Panu, a settlement between Oba Akoko and Owo, shortly after collecting the ransom from the victim’s family. Reports gathered that they were found in a thick forest, although it is yet to be confirmed whether their capture was carried out by security agencies or local hunters.

Eleyinmi, a faculty officer in the university’s department of education, regained freedom on Sunday, nearly a week after being abducted. He was seized last Monday near his Supare-Akoko residence after returning from work on a commercial motorcycle. His abductors, who had allegedly laid an ambush at his home, were said to have fired sporadically before whisking him away.

Family and university sources confirmed that a substantial ransom was paid for his release. The kidnappers were reported to have reduced their initial demand from ₦100 million to ₦7 million following negotiations.

Moved by the urgency of the situation, the AAUA Alumni Association launched a donation appeal to raise the ransom. In a statement, the association’s Global Publicity Secretary, O’Seun Ogunsakin, said:

“Distinguished Alumni, I am sure that the majority of you must have heard the news of the kidnapping of one of us, Niyi Eleyinmi, who is the Faculty Officer of the Faculty of Education, AAUA. Eleyinmi was kidnapped on Monday, and the kidnappers have demanded a sum of seven million Naira (₦7,000,000). It is on this note that I want to passionately appeal to you to donate towards securing the safe release of Niyi from his captors.”

Efforts to reach Ondo State Police Command spokesman Olayinka Ayanlade for comments proved unsuccessful, as a text message sent to him had yet to be delivered at the time of filing this report.

The arrest of the suspects comes barely 24 hours after Eleyinmi’s release, marking a swift turn in the case that has gripped the Akoko community over the past week.