The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim unhurt following a coordinated security operation in Oyo town, even as it intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The command disclosed that the incident occurred after armed hoodlums invaded a community in Oyo, abducting a male victim and carting away mobile phones and two motorcycles.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the breakthrough followed a swift response by security operatives after the case was reported at the Ojongbodu Division.
He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately mobilized a joint team comprising police operatives, personnel of the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, and hunters to track the kidnappers.
“The team embarked on an intensive combing of surrounding bushes and identified possible escape routes. The operation was further reinforced by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, deploying geolocation tracking and other intelligence-gathering strategies,” Ayanlade said.
He explained that sustained operational pressure mounted on the criminals forced them into disarray, enabling the victim to escape unhurt.
The victim, he added, has since been reunited with his family and debriefed to aid investigations.
Spokesperson for the command reassured residents of the state of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, noting that additional measures had been put in place to forestall recurrence.
“These include intensified patrols, strategic deployments, and continued collaboration with other security stakeholders. Residents are encouraged to go about their lawful activities without fear,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the command has launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects, with investigations ongoing.
Ayanlade urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in tackling crime.
The development underscores renewed security efforts in Oyo amid rising concerns over kidnapping and related crimes in parts of the country.
The command also arrested six suspected members of a robbery syndicate terrorizing residents using tricycles.
The suspects are Kelvin Daniel, 21; Idris Ramon, 25; Christopher Solomon, 35; Mohamed Telim, 21; Taored Aderibigbe, 30; and Adekunle Tolani, 27.
They were apprehended following a coordinated sting operation at a hotel in the 7UP/Academy area of the city, based on credible intelligence received by the police.
Ayanlade said the operation led to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of crucial exhibits, including 18 mobile phones, an Opay ATM card, a National Identification Number (NIN) card, and the tricycle (registration number OYO SHK 508 QP) allegedly used in their criminal activities,” the statement added.
According to him, the suspects confessed to being part of a criminal syndicate responsible for multiple robberies in the Ibadan metropolis.
The police assured that further investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged in court upon completion. Similarly, the state’s police command has arrested three suspects over the unlawful possession and alleged sale of suspected human parts in Ibadan as part of efforts to curb criminal activities in the state.
The suspects were apprehended following a routine stop-and-search operation carried out by police operatives in the Adekile area of Agugu.
During the operation, a patrol team intercepted an unregistered Bajaj Boxer motorcycle and discovered a package containing flesh suspected to be human intestines in the possession of a passenger.
Joseph was immediately arrested and subsequently confessed during interrogation that he obtained the suspected human parts from an unidentified individual in the Oritaperin area of the city.
Police investigations further revealed that the suspect allegedly sold the items to two other individuals, Alfa Onaolapo Taiwo [46] and Ayodele Taiwo (55), who were later tracked and arrested by operatives of the command. Both men reportedly admitted to purchasing the items.
Police spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said the Commissioner of Police ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough and discreet investigation. He added that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and maintaining public safety, noting that proactive policing strategies, including routine stop-and-search operations, would be sustained to prevent criminal activities.
It also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that “community cooperation is crucial” in tackling such crimes.
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