RismadarVoice Reporters
October 25, 2026
The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a 15-year-old boy, Sumaila Muhammadu, who was abducted in Akinyele Local Government Area, following a security operation that left one suspected kidnapper dead.
The operation took place along the Awe–Iwo Road axis of the state, where police operatives, working with local vigilantes, reportedly engaged suspected kidnappers in a gunfight.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Sunday.
According to Ayanlade, Muhammadu was abducted from the Onidundun area of Akinyele Local Government Area on October 18, 2026.
The police received intelligence on Thursday, October 22, indicating that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom for the teenager’s release.
Following the information, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Section to launch a rescue operation.
The operatives, working alongside members of the Oyo Zone Vigilante Group of Nigeria, subsequently moved to the Pipeline, Ajagba axis along the Awe–Iwo Road.
Ayanlade said the security team encountered the suspected kidnappers at approximately 9:30 p.m., when the armed men allegedly opened fire on the advancing operatives.
A gunfight followed, during which the security personnel successfully rescued the teenager.
One unidentified suspected kidnapper was shot during the encounter, while other members of the group reportedly escaped in different directions.
The police said some of the fleeing suspects might have sustained gunshot injuries.
The injured suspect was taken to a hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed his death. His remains were subsequently deposited at a morgue.
Items recovered during the operation included an Android mobile phone and a cutlass, which investigators are expected to examine as part of the ongoing investigation.
The command urged residents of communities along the Awe–Iwo Road to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist in locating the fleeing suspects.
Healthcare workers and hospital administrators were also advised to notify the police of patients presenting with suspicious gunshot injuries potentially connected to the incident.
Ayanlade said such information could help investigators identify the remaining suspects and prevent further attacks.
Commissioner Olugbenga reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security organisations in combating kidnapping and violent crime.
He appealed to residents to continue supporting security operations by reporting suspicious activities promptly.
The police said efforts were continuing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the abduction.
