The Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday foiled an attempt to kidnap a 40-year-old man, Taiwo John, by eight gunmen at Otefon village via Oyo and Amalu area of Oyo town.
This was contained in a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, in Ibadan, the state capital.
PUNCH Online reports that the command had, on Monday, foiled a deadly bandit attack at Elebe Village, Aleniboro, via Irawo Mine in Atisbo Local Government Area of the state and neutralised two members of the group.
According to the PPRO, the breakthrough followed credible information provided by a good Samaritan, alerting security operatives to the presence of about 10-armed men who had concealed themselves at a farm settlement within Elebe Village with plans to attack the community under the cover of darkness.
In Tuesday’s statement, Ayanlade said the latest development followed a report received at the Atiba Division indicating that armed hoodlums numbering about eight invaded Otefon village in the early hours of the day.
He explained that during the attack, the criminals also made away with an undisclosed sum of money belonging to the victim’s wives, as well as his Android mobile phone.
“The Oyo Police Command has recorded a significant operational breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes, culminating in the rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of a suspect linked to coordinated attacks in Otefon Village via Oyo and Amalu Village via Ahorọ Dada.
“The assailants abducted one Taiwo John, also known as ‘Ogo Oluwa,’ aged 40. In the course of the attack, the criminals also made away with an undisclosed sum of money belonging to the victim’s wives as well as the victim’s Android mobile phone.
“While efforts were being intensified to respond to the Otefon incident, a related report was received from Ikoyi-Ile Division that the same criminal syndicate had extended its operation to Amalu village via Ahorọ Dada.
“In a similar pattern, armed men invaded a residential compound and abducted one Usman Amadu, thereby confirming coordinated attacks within the same operational corridor,” he said.
The PPRO added that the command immediately activated its anti-kidnapping response architecture, deploying tactical teams to strategic locations across the affected axis.
“Through intelligence-led surveillance, coordinated bush combing operations, and sustained operational pressure, security operatives successfully rescued one of the kidnapped victims unhurt and arrested one Ibrahim Sani ‘M’ in connection with the crimes.
“The suspect has since confessed to the commission of the said offences and is currently in custody, assisting ongoing investigations aimed at dismantling the entire criminal network.”
Ayanlade said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional exhibits linked to the incidents.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police reassured residents that the command remained resolute and proactive in confronting criminal elements threatening public safety.
The command also urged members of the public to sustain cooperation with law enforcement agencies by providing timely and credible information, noting that community partnership remains critical in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
