The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a 60-year-old kidnap victim, Isiaku Saidu, and freed another abducted person without ransom, while also arresting several suspects in separate operations across the state, the command said on Tuesday in Ibadan.
DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development in a statement outlining multiple operational successes.
The rescue of Saidu in Budo, Iseyin Local Government Area followed a kidnapping attempt on January 11, 2026, when armed hoodlums reportedly invaded the community with guns and cutlasses and abducted the 60-year-old.
Acting on information, the Divisional Police Officer, Ago-Are, and partner agencies conducted aggressive patrols and bush-combing operations that led to the discovery of the suspects’ hideout.
During the operation, the suspects allegedly engaged officers in a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of one suspect, while another was apprehended and is cooperating with investigators. The remaining members of the group reportedly fled with bullet wounds.
Police have urged members of the public to report anyone seen with such injuries to assist with the investigation.
In a separate operation at Gelede Camp, Komu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, police rescued another kidnapped victim identified as Hussinat Abubakar, female, without payment of any ransom, the statement said.
The Divisional Police Officer in Komu, supported by partner agencies, located the victim and arrested three suspects, identified as Kari Ibrahim, 22; Dure Jimoh, 25; and Abubakar Sidi, 55. The suspects have confessed to involvement in the crime, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
Recovered exhibits at the scene included six expended cartridges, the statement added. The rescued victim is currently receiving medical treatment and necessary support at a local hospital, while the suspects are expected to be charged in court upon completion of investigations.
The operations reflect the intensified efforts by the Oyo State Police to address kidnapping and violent crime in the state following directives by Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, to prioritise the protection of lives and property.
The statement noted that the command has also foiled other kidnapping attempts and made various arrests in recent weeks.
Police officials reiterated their appeal to residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to the nearest police station to aid continued security efforts.
