The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a five-year-old girl, Fikayo Gbemiga, who was kidnapped in Ibadan, and arrested two suspected abductors following an intelligence-led operation.
The suspects, identified as 37-year-old Seyi Adegboye and 25-year-old Adefemi Adegboye, allegedly abducted the child from her family’s residence in the Iyana Offa area of Ibadan on July 3, 2026, before demanding a ransom of N10 million for her release.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that the suspects had earlier received N1 million in ransom at Gbongan, Osun State, on July 8, as part of negotiations with the victim’s family.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad launched an intensive investigation, deploying technology and other intelligence-gathering tools to track the suspects.
The operation culminated in the arrest of the suspects at about 10:30 p.m. on July 11 at their hideout in the Mojoyin Molade area of Iwo Road, Ibadan.
Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives stormed the hideout and rescued the victim unharmed at about 10:35 p.m., preventing the suspects from relocating the child or escaping arrest.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects unlawfully gained access to the family’s residence before abducting the five-year-old and demanding N10 million for her release.
Police further disclosed that investigations confirmed the suspects had already collected N1 million in ransom from the victim’s family during negotiations in Osun State.
The suspects are currently assisting investigators, while efforts are ongoing to recover the ransom and arrest other members of the kidnapping syndicate who remain at large.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, praised their professionalism, resilience and dedication, describing the successful rescue as another major breakthrough in the command’s fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and strengthened collaboration with members of the public to improve security across Oyo State.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely, credible and actionable information to the police, assuring them that all useful intelligence would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
