Two persons suspected to be involved in the killing of Excel Alaba, the campaign coordinator of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during the last election in Ondo State, have been arrested.

The suspects identified as Mohammed Sheu and Abubakar Umar were nabbed by men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command.

Excel, who was killed in April 2024 was a ward campaign coordinator for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot-Soldiers, LACO-SF. He was killed in Supare Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the duo had been involved in a series of kidnappings in the Akoko axis of the state as well as neighbouring states.

The PPRO stated that one of the suspects who was arrested during a stop-and-search operation confessed to committing the crime along with his other gang members.

The suspect said the gang’s operation style was to locate victims’ houses, after which they go in, pick and whisk them into the bush, and subsequently demand the payment of ransom.

“On the 14th of November, 2024, men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping on Stop and Search at Ikare Junction at about 1520 hrs intercepted one Hiace vehicle, popularly known as the Hummer Bus, conveying passengers to Owo.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Abubakar Umar ‘M,’ age 24 years, who also confessed to committing a similar crime as a gang member.

“The suspects stated further that they were responsible for the kidnap at Supare Akoko that led to the death of Hon. Alaba Abe Excel in April 2024.”