The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper during a late-night operation in Otefon forest, Atiba Local Government Area, after a gang allegedly demanded N10 million ransom for the release of an abducted resident.
The suspect, identified by police as Mohammed Sanni, was apprehended after security operatives stormed the area where the kidnappers had reportedly gathered to receive ransom from the victim’s family. The operation followed intelligence provided by members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Oyo State.
Police authorities said the victim, Alhaji Bagudu, was abducted from his residence in Ilowa village on May 9 by about six armed men who later whisked him into the Otefon forest. The kidnappers were said to have contacted relatives of the victim and demanded N10m before agreeing to release him.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbemiga Abimbola, immediately ordered a coordinated rescue operation involving the Anti-Kidnapping Squad operating within the Oyo/Iseyin axis alongside local vigilante operatives.
According to the police spokesman, security operatives prioritised the safe release of the victim before launching tactical moves against the suspects.
“Upon confirmation that the victim had regained his freedom unharmed, operatives advanced towards the scene to apprehend the hoodlums and prevent any further threat to life,” Ayanlade stated.
The police said intelligence gathering and technological tracking enabled operatives to identify the exact location where the gang had assembled inside the forest.
Trouble, however, started when the suspects allegedly opened fire on security personnel after sighting the advancing team.
The ensuing gun duel forced several members of the gang to flee deeper into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds, while Sanni was arrested at the scene.
Security operatives also recovered a Hajoue motorcycle bearing registration number TUT 824 TY, which investigators believe was used for the gang’s movement and logistics during the operation. Other items recovered include a mobile phone, a pair of slippers and a cap, all of which police said were undergoing forensic examination.
Police authorities disclosed that the suspect had already made “useful confessional statements” regarding the activities of the syndicate and the identities of other fleeing gang members.
The latest operation adds to a series of anti-kidnapping crackdowns carried out by security agencies across Oyo State in recent months amid growing concerns over rising abduction cases in parts of the South-West. Earlier this month, the command announced the rescue of an abducted farmer, Quadri Oloriegbe, and the arrest of multiple suspects linked to his abduction in the Irawo axis of the state.
In February, police operatives also rescued another kidnap victim during coordinated operations in Otefon and nearby communities, leading to the arrest of a suspect linked to attacks in the area.
The recurring incidents have continued to raise concerns among residents, farmers and travellers in parts of Oyo, particularly in rural communities bordering forests frequently exploited by criminal gangs.
Security experts and community leaders have repeatedly called for stronger intelligence-sharing between conventional security agencies and local vigilante groups, many of whom have increasingly played frontline roles in rescue operations.
The police command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or credible information that could aid ongoing investigations and the arrest of fleeing suspects.
Authorities said efforts were ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate believed to have escaped during the exchange of gunfire.
