The Oyo State Police Command has successfully dismantled a kidnapping syndicate operating across Ipapo, Okaka, and other communities in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state. Five suspects were arrested, and ₦4,618,700—part of the ransom paid for a recent abduction—was recovered.
In a statement issued on Saturday, July 5, 2025, the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Osifeso Adewale, said the arrests followed the June 26 abduction of a man identified as Timothy from his residence in Mokorede, Ipapo.
According to the statement, six armed men stormed the victim’s home around 11:00 p.m. and abducted him at gunpoint. Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Ipapo, in collaboration with operatives from Amotekun, local hunters, and Fulani vigilante groups, launched a coordinated search and rescue operation.
Following days of intelligence-led investigation and community support, officers from the Okaka Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, apprehended five suspects on June 30. The arrest took place at a local hideout where the gang members were allegedly sharing the ransom money.
The arrested suspects were identified as:
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Usman Abubakar (30)
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Umar Abubakar (21)
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Abdulkadir Sulaiman (22)
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Abdullahi Naira (23)
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Isiaku Saboyaro (30)
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, detailing their roles and implicating a sixth member—identified only as “Wetti”—believed to be the gang leader, who remains at large.
The Police Command emphasized that investigations are ongoing and efforts are underway to apprehend the fleeing suspect. The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Oyo State Police to safeguarding lives and property, urging the public to provide any useful information to assist in the ongoing operation.
