Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Security operations intensified across Oyo State this week after police rescued a 40-year-old kidnapping victim and arrested a suspect linked to coordinated attacks in multiple rural communities, while a separate abduction of a 12-year-old student in Ibadan continues to raise concern.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that Taiwo John, who was abducted during an early morning raid, was successfully rescued on Tuesday following targeted operations by anti-kidnapping units. A suspect identified as Ibrahim Sani was apprehended in connection with the attacks, which spanned Otefon Village in Oyo town and Amalu Village near Ahoro Dada.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, the breakthrough followed intelligence reports that approximately eight armed men had invaded Otefon Village in the early hours, targeting residents and carrying out coordinated criminal activity. During the raid, the assailants reportedly stole an undisclosed sum of money belonging to the victim’s wives and seized his Android mobile phone before fleeing.
While security teams were responding to the Otefon incident, officers at the Ikoyi-Ile Division received additional reports indicating that the same group had extended their operations to Amalu Village. There, another resident, identified as Usman Amadu, was kidnapped, reinforcing suspicions of a coordinated attack across multiple settlements.
Police authorities stated that tactical teams were immediately deployed to strategic locations, supported by intelligence-led surveillance and bush combing operations aimed at intercepting the fleeing suspects. Sustained operational pressure led to the safe rescue of Taiwo John without reported injuries. Ibrahim Sani was arrested during the operation and is said to be assisting investigators with information intended to dismantle the wider criminal network.
The police indicated that efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the group who remain at large and to recover additional evidence. The Commissioner of Police reiterated the command’s commitment to addressing kidnapping and violent crime through proactive policing strategies and urged residents to provide timely and credible intelligence.
The latest development follows another security operation earlier in the week in Elebe Village, Aleniboro, within Atisbo Local Government Area. Acting on information from a local informant, security forces reportedly intercepted a group of approximately ten armed men said to be hiding in a farm settlement with plans to launch a night attack. During the confrontation, two suspected gang members were neutralized, according to police accounts.
Authorities described the sequence of events as evidence of growing collaboration between community members and security agencies, emphasizing that actionable intelligence played a critical role in disrupting planned assaults and securing the victim’s release.
Despite the operational successes, anxiety persists in parts of the state due to an unresolved abduction case involving a 12-year-old student in Ibadan. The incident occurred on February 12, 2026, when masked gunmen reportedly abducted the girl while she was with her mother. Witnesses stated that the kidnappers fired shots to disperse bystanders before fleeing through the Challenge area of the city in a vehicle without license plates.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attack took place around 7:20 a.m., heightening alarm because of its timing during school hours. The girl’s attempted resistance reportedly failed as the armed men overpowered her and escaped. As of the latest update, she has not been rescued.
The pattern of incidents has intensified debate over security in both rural and urban parts of Oyo State. While law enforcement officials point to recent arrests and tactical responses as proof of active engagement, residents continue to call for sustained patrols, surveillance enhancements, and improved rapid response capacity.
Security analysts note that coordinated village raids followed by movement across local government boundaries suggest structured criminal networks rather than isolated opportunistic attacks. The use of forested settlements and remote farmland as staging grounds complicates detection and requires persistent intelligence gathering.
Community leaders in affected areas have appealed for reinforced security presence, especially in rural corridors where agricultural activities often expose residents to risk. They stress that early morning and nighttime operations by armed groups have created an atmosphere of fear that disrupts farming, trade, and schooling.
Law enforcement authorities maintain that dismantling such networks requires continued collaboration between residents and security agencies. The police have reiterated their appeal for information that could assist in locating the remaining suspects and securing the safe return of the abducted student in Ibadan.
As investigations continue, the successful rescue of Taiwo John offers some reassurance to communities shaken by the attacks. However, the unresolved case of the young student underscores the ongoing security challenges facing parts of Oyo State and the urgency of sustained intervention.
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