The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a 60‑year‑old kidnap victim and another abducted woman, arrested four suspected criminals and neutralised one gang member in coordinated anti‑kidnapping operations across the state, the force said on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the combined actions followed a directive from the State Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, aimed at securing lives and property and dismantling kidnapping syndicates operating in different local government areas.
Haruna ordered intensified patrols and bush‑combing operations after reports of multiple abductions.
On January 11, 2026, armed hoodlums numbering about five, wielding guns and cutlasses, reportedly invaded Budo, Iseyin Local Government Area, and abducted Isiaku Saidu, 60, the police said. Responding to the alert, a joint team of police and partner agencies located the suspected kidnappers’ hideout.
Gunfire erupted when the operatives approached the location, resulting in the neutralisation of one suspect and the arrest of another, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Police are urging communities to report anyone seen with bullet injuries.
In a related operation, police acting on intelligence also intervened in an abduction at Gelede Camp, Komu, Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Hussinat Abubakar (female), was rescued without ransom payment and three suspects were subsequently taken into custody.
The arrested suspects are Kari Ibrahim, 22; Dure Jimoh, 25; and Abubakar Sidi, 55, all of whom have reportedly confessed to their roles in the crime, the statement said.
Ayanlade said officers recovered six expended cartridges at the Komu scene and stressed that investigations continue to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicates.
The rescued victims are receiving medical care and support, while the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of police inquiries.
The police attributed the successful operations to enhanced vigilance, coordinated patrols and proactive intelligence gathering, reflecting ongoing efforts by security forces to respond swiftly to abduction cases and curb kidnapping activities across Oyo State.
Authorities reiterated a call for public cooperation, urging citizens to promptly report suspicious movements or individuals to local police stations to aid in crime prevention and swift resolution of security threats.
The developments come amid broader concerns over kidnapping and violent crime in southwestern Nigeria, where law enforcement agencies have increasingly relied on community intelligence and inter‑agency collaboration to counter criminal networks.
