Police Foil Kidnapping Attempt In Oyo, Rescue Victim Hours After Abduction
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN – THE Oyo State Police Command has successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued an abducted victim following a swift security operation in Olorunda Village of Oyo town.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued on Sunday by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
According to the statement, the Command received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. on January 24, 2026, from a resident identified as Alimot, who reported that suspected kidnappers armed with dangerous weapons had invaded her brother’s residence in Olorunda village.
During the invasion, the assailants abducted one Haruna Lawal, a male resident of Olorunda Village via Oyo, and escaped with his motorcycle to an unknown destination.
DSP Olayinka said that upon receiving the report and acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, psc(+), police operatives were immediately deployed to the area.
He explained that the prompt response and aggressive bush-combing operation mounted by the police exerted pressure on the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon the victim as officers advanced with patrol vans and sirens.
“The kidnapped victim was rescued alive within hours of the abduction,” the statement said.
The victim, who sustained a head injury during the ordeal, was promptly taken to the General Hospital, Oyo, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
The Police Command noted that the swift rescue underscores its professionalism, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property across the state.
CP Haruna commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, for his continuous leadership, strategic guidance, and support, while also praising the gallant officers involved in the operation for their courage and dedication.
The Command added that efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, as investigations into the incident continue.
It further reassured residents of Oyo State of its resolve to ensure that criminals find no hiding place and urged the public to continue to cooperate with the police by providing timely and credible information.