Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four individuals along the Igbeti–Kishi Road in Irepo Local Government Area, a rural corridor in the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State that has recently experienced increasing security concerns. Authorities say security operatives have launched an intensive search and rescue operation aimed at locating the victims and apprehending the perpetrators responsible for the attack.
The incident was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, who disclosed the development in a statement issued to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital. According to him, the police received reports that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers intercepted travellers along the Igbeti–Kishi highway and abducted four people during the attack.
Following the report, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State immediately directed the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Kishi and Igbeti divisions to mobilise personnel and coordinate a rapid response operation. Tactical units and specialised teams were also deployed to support the operation in order to secure the safe release of the victims and bring the attackers to justice.
Security officials disclosed that officers have begun combing nearby forests and surrounding communities where the kidnappers are believed to have fled after carrying out the attack. Intelligence gathering operations have also been intensified as investigators attempt to track the movement of the suspects and determine their possible hideouts.
According to police authorities, all available operational resources have been deployed in the area as part of the rescue mission. These efforts include coordinated patrols, surveillance activities and collaboration with local security networks familiar with the terrain.
The police spokesperson reassured residents that the command remains committed to ensuring the safety of citizens and restoring security in the affected communities. He urged members of the public to remain calm while security agencies continue their search operations.
He also appealed to residents and travellers who may possess useful information regarding the whereabouts of the abductors or their victims to report such intelligence to the nearest police station or security formation.
As of the time of the announcement, the identities of the abducted victims had not been officially disclosed by authorities. It also remained unclear whether the attackers had contacted the victims’ families to demand ransom or issued any communication regarding their release.
The Igbeti–Kishi road, located within the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State, connects several rural communities and serves as an important route for traders, farmers and travellers moving between settlements in the region. However, like several rural highways across Nigeria, the road has occasionally been vulnerable to criminal attacks due to its proximity to thick forests and remote terrain.
Security analysts say such environments sometimes provide hiding places for criminal gangs involved in kidnapping and other forms of violent crime. In response to these challenges, security agencies have in recent years increased patrol operations and intelligence monitoring across the Oke-Ogun area.
Stone Reporters note that kidnapping for ransom has remained one of the major security concerns affecting many parts of Nigeria. Criminal groups frequently target travellers on highways or residents in rural communities where security presence is relatively limited.
Authorities in Oyo State have repeatedly pledged to strengthen security operations across vulnerable routes and forested areas within the state. Joint operations involving police officers, military personnel and local security groups have also been conducted in several parts of the region to dismantle criminal hideouts and reduce the risk of attacks on civilians.
The latest abduction incident has once again drawn attention to the security challenges facing communities located along remote road networks in the southwestern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has reiterated its determination to secure the safe rescue of the victims and ensure that those responsible for the attack are arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
Investigations into the incident remain ongoing as security operatives continue search operations across the affected areas.
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