The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in the abduction of a man, identified simply as Timothy, who was kidnapped from his residence in Mokorede, Ipapo, within Itesiwaju Local Government Area on June 26, 2025. Authorities also recovered a total sum of ₦4,618,700 believed to be part of the ransom paid by the victim’s family to secure his release.
In an official statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, the abduction occurred around 11:00 p.m. when six armed men forcefully entered the victim’s residence and whisked him away to an unknown location.
The coordinated response to the crime began shortly after a distress call was received, prompting the Divisional Police Officer in Ipapo to swiftly mobilize a tactical search and rescue team. The team included operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), local vigilante groups, including Fulani volunteers, and hunters familiar with the terrain.
The Command further disclosed that intensive intelligence-led investigations and inter-divisional collaborations were initiated, with strategic information shared with adjoining police divisions and sister security agencies to aid in the rescue operation and manhunt for the suspects.
The breakthrough came on June 30, when operatives attached to the Okaka Police Division apprehended five suspects in the Okaka community, where they were reportedly found in the act of sharing the ransom proceeds. The arrested suspects were identified as Usman Abubakar (30), Umar Abubakar (21), Abdulkadir Sulaiman (22), Abdullahi Naira (23), and Isiaku Saboyaro (30).
Preliminary investigations have linked the suspects directly to the abduction, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the sixth member of the gang who remains at large. Authorities have also launched a forensic analysis of mobile devices, financial trails, and other intelligence assets to ascertain the full scope of the operation and possible connections to broader kidnapping syndicates within the region.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, has reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating criminality, especially abduction for ransom, which he described as a “grave affront to public safety and peace.” He further assured residents of Itesiwaju and the wider Oke-Ogun axis that robust security architecture is being reinforced to prevent future occurrences.
The suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court upon the completion of investigations.
The Oyo State Police Command called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements promptly, emphasizing that collective community vigilance remains crucial to ensuring lasting security and peace across the state.
