Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A joint security operation in Otu community, located in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, has resulted in the death of three suspected kidnappers and the rescue of a 50‑year‑old victim who had been abducted from his home in the nearby Okaka community. The operation, carried out on Monday, 25 May 2026, involved police operatives, local hunters, and other security agencies acting on a distress call from hunters who had come under attack while on an expedition in the Otu axis. According to a statement issued on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, by the Oyo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the hunters reported that they were ambushed by armed kidnappers who opened fire on them during their routine patrol. Although no hunter was killed in the initial exchange, the incident triggered an immediate mobilisation of a combined tactical response team to the scene.
Upon arrival, the security team confronted the suspects, who met them with a hail of gunfire, forcing a fierce gun duel deep inside the bush. The police spokesperson described the engagement as intense, but the team’s superior firepower and coordinated tactical response ultimately overpowered the criminals. At the conclusion of the confrontation, three suspected kidnappers were neutralised on the spot, while others fled in various directions, reportedly with gunshot injuries. The operation also led to the rescue of a man later identified as Mr. Mosudi Gbolagade, aged about 50, who had been abducted earlier from his home in Okaka community and held captive within the Otu area. The victim sustained gunshot injuries during the crossfire but was quickly evacuated to a hospital, where he is receiving urgent medical care. One of the local hunters who participated in the operation also suffered a gunshot wound and is currently receiving treatment. From the scene, security operatives recovered an AK‑47 rifle without ammunition, a single‑barrelled gun, and a machete.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbenga, commended the bravery, synergy, and timely intervention of the local hunters and other security stakeholders, describing their collaboration as critical to the success of the mission. He reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against criminal elements across the state and urged residents to remain vigilant by providing credible and timely information to security agencies. The neutralisation of the three kidnappers and the rescue of Mr. Gbolagade mark the latest in a series of coordinated crackdowns on kidnapping networks operating in the Oke‑Ogun zone, an area that has experienced a rise in such criminal activities in recent months.
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