The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a 15-year-old boy, identified as Sumaila Muhammadu, from suspected kidnappers and neutralised one suspect during a gun battle along the Awe–Iwo Road axis of the state.
The operation followed intelligence received by the command on October 22, 2026, about the abduction of the teenager from the Onidundun area of Akinyele Local Government Area on October 18, according to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, on Sunday.
The police said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom for the victim’s release, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, to direct operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section to track down the suspects and rescue the boy.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Oyo Zone Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the security team advanced towards the suspects’ hideout around the Pipeline, Ajagba axis along the Awe–Iwo Road when the operation turned into a gun battle.
The police said the suspected kidnappers opened fire after sighting the advancing operatives, but the security team successfully rescued the teenager during the exchange.
One suspected kidnapper was neutralised, while other members of the gang reportedly escaped in different directions with possible gunshot injuries.
The command said the neutralised suspect was taken to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed his death, before his body was deposited at a morgue.
The police also disclosed that operatives recovered an Android mobile phone and a cutlass during the operation. The items would form part of the ongoing investigation.
Following the incident, the command urged residents of the Awe–Iwo Road axis and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and report anyone suspected of seeking treatment for gunshot wounds linked to the encounter.
The police also appealed to medical practitioners, hospital administrators and other healthcare workers to promptly alert the authorities when patients present with suspicious gunshot injuries that may be connected to the incident.
The command said information could be provided through the nearest police station or its established communication channels, adding that credible reports could assist efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.
The operation comes amid continuing security concerns over kidnapping and other violent crimes in parts of Oyo State, particularly in communities where criminal groups exploit rural routes and isolated locations.
The police said intelligence-led operations and cooperation with local security stakeholders would remain central to efforts to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further abductions.
The Commissioner of Police also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing the importance of public cooperation in combating kidnapping across the state.
