Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Two suspects are in police custody over the abduction of a 38-year-old man, Nathaniel Peter, who was taken from his room in Layeri Village near Ikoyi-Ile, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, in the early hours of September 24, 2026. The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the arrests on Sunday, September 27, identifying the suspects as Muhammadu Abubakar, an adult, and Jayun Danali, aged 17. Both are currently assisting the police with information relevant to the investigation.
The abduction occurred at about 4:20 a.m. on September 24, when three armed men forcibly gained entry into Peter's room and took him from the premises. The assailants escaped through the National Reserve Forest, reportedly carting away a Hajue motorcycle and the victim's mobile phone. The incident was not reported to the police until about 5:50 p.m. that same day, when a resident of the community alerted the authorities. Why it took more than thirteen hours for the abduction to be reported remains unclear. The delay could have cost the investigation precious hours, allowing the abductors to move deeper into the forest and cover their tracks before security agencies were even aware that a man had been taken.
Police operatives moved to the scene immediately after receiving the report and commenced preliminary assessment and investigation. The arrests of Abubakar and Danali followed what the police described as a swift response to the incident. The command said the arrests have provided useful investigative leads towards identifying and apprehending other members of the gang. The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified coordinated operations aimed at securing the safe rescue of the victim and apprehending the fleeing members of the criminal gang.
The National Reserve Forest, through which the assailants escaped, is a vast expanse of woodland that has become a notorious haven for criminal groups operating across Oyo State and its neighbouring states. The forest's size and dense vegetation make it difficult for security agencies to track suspects, particularly when abductors have a head start of several hours. The fact that the kidnappers took the victim's motorcycle suggests they intended to move quickly and cover ground before any pursuit could begin. The motorcycle, a Hajue model, may have been used to transport Peter deeper into the forest or to a waiting vehicle on the other side. The recovery of the victim's mobile phone, if it has been recovered, could provide investigators with valuable data, including location history and communication records. The police have not disclosed whether the phone was recovered or what information, if any, has been extracted from it.
The arrest of a 17-year-old suspect in connection with a kidnapping that occurred in the dead of night, in a remote village, raises troubling questions about the involvement of minors in violent crime in Oyo State. Danali's age suggests he may have been recruited by older criminals, possibly for his knowledge of the local terrain or his ability to move through the community without attracting suspicion. Whether he was a willing participant or a pawn in a larger criminal enterprise is a question the investigation will need to answer. His case also raises legal questions about how the justice system handles juvenile suspects in serious criminal cases. Under Nigerian law, a 17-year-old is a minor, and his prosecution would be subject to the provisions of the Child Rights Act. The police have not indicated whether he will be tried as a juvenile or whether they will seek to have him tried as an adult.
For the family of Nathaniel Peter, the wait for news has been agonising. The abduction occurred on a Thursday morning, and by the time the police announced the arrests on Sunday, three days had passed. The family has not publicly commented on the incident, but the trauma of having a loved one taken from his home in the middle of the night, with no word on his condition or whereabouts, is a burden that no family should have to bear. The police have not disclosed whether the abductors have made any ransom demands, nor have they confirmed whether the victim is believed to be alive. The silence from the authorities on these critical questions only deepens the anxiety of the family and the community.
The abduction of Nathaniel Peter is the latest in a series of kidnapping incidents that have plagued Oyo State in recent months. In August 2026, gunmen abducted two farmers in Parubber community in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area, demanding a ransom of N100 million. One of the victims, a female farmer, later died in captivity despite the payment of a ransom. In July 2026, three farmers were abducted in Agbaje community in Idanre Local Council Area, with the kidnappers demanding N15 million. In April 2026, gunmen killed a mother and her daughter during a kidnapping at a poultry farm in Igushi, Akure North Local Government Area. The pattern is consistent: rural communities are being targeted, abductions are increasing, and the police are struggling to keep pace with the criminal networks operating across the state's vast forest reserves.
The Oyo State Police Command has said it is committed to the safety and security of residents, particularly in the affected communities. It has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly share credible information with the police. The command's reassurance is welcome, but for the residents of Layeri Village and surrounding communities, the real test will be whether Nathaniel Peter is brought home safely and whether the remaining members of the gang are arrested and prosecuted. Until then, the forest remains a dark and dangerous place, and the people who live on its edges will continue to wonder who will be taken next.
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