By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Security operatives in Oyo State have arrested a kidnapping suspect after intercepting a ransom handover in Otefon village, Atiba Local Government Area, in a coordinated overnight operation that also secured the safe release of the victim.
The victim, Alhaji Bagudu, was abducted from his home in Ilowa village on 9 May 2026 by a gang of approximately six armed men who transported him to a hideout in the Otefon forest and demanded ₦10 million for his release.
Police moved in the early hours of Wednesday, 13 May, acting on intelligence channelled through members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Oyo. The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbemiga Abimbola, directed the Anti-Kidnapping Squad operating in the Oyo/Iseyin axis, supported by local vigilantes, to mount a rescue operation at the location where the gang had assembled to collect the ransom.
Operatives ensured the victim was freed before closing in on 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,” state police spokesperson CSP Olayinka Ayanlade said.
The suspects opened fire on security personnel when they arrived, triggering a gun battle. Several fled into dense adjoining forest, reportedly sustaining gunshot wounds, while one identified as Mohammed Sanni was apprehended at the scene.
A motorcycle, a mobile phone, footwear, and a cap were recovered. All items are undergoing forensic examination, and Sanni has since made confessional statements to investigators.
The Oyo State Police Command said the operation benefited from intelligence-gathering and technological tracking that allowed operatives to pinpoint the exact location of the rendezvous. A manhunt for the remaining suspects is ongoing.
The command is urging members of the public with relevant information to come forward and assist investigations.
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