RismadarVoice Reporters, May 26, 2026
Security operatives in Oyo State have successfully dismantled a kidnapping operation in the Otu community within the Oke-Ogun axis, killing three suspected abductors and rescuing a middle-aged man who had been held captive, the state police command announced on Tuesday.
The operation, which brought together police officers, local hunters, and other security agencies, was triggered by a distress call on May 25, 2026, after hunters on an expedition in the Otu area came under fire from armed men suspected to be kidnappers. Remarkably, none of the hunters was hurt in that initial ambush.
Authorities responded swiftly, deploying a joint response team to the location. Upon arrival, the operatives were met with gunfire from the suspects, sparking a fierce exchange. The security team eventually gained the upper hand, killing three of the kidnappers in the process.
Among the outcomes of the raid was the rescue of Mosudi Gbolagade, approximately 50 years old, who had reportedly been snatched from Okaka and transferred to the Otu hideout. Gbolagade sustained gunshot wounds during the operation and was immediately evacuated for medical care. One local hunter was also injured in the crossfire and is currently hospitalised.
Items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle — though without ammunition — a single-barreled gun, and a machete.
Oyo State Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed the details in an official statement, in which the Commissioner of Police also lauded the courage of the community hunters whose early alert made the rescue possible.
The command used the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to sustained anti-crime operations across the state, while appealing to residents to remain alert and share credible intelligence with security agencies.
