Police Nab Five Over Oyo Kidnapping, Recover Over N4.6m Ransom

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to the recent abduction of a man named Timothy, who was kidnapped from his home in Mokorede, Ipapo, Itesiwaju Local Government Area, on June 26.

In a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, the command confirmed that a total of ₦4,618,700 — believed to be part of the ransom paid by the victim’s family — was recovered during the operation.

According to reports, six armed men stormed Timothy’s residence around 11 p.m., forcefully taking him to an undisclosed location.

Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Ipapo immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving police operatives, members of the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, and Fulani vigilance groups. The mission was expanded to nearby divisions for broader coverage.

By June 30, officers from the Okaka Division apprehended five suspects in the Okaka community while they were allegedly sharing the ransom money. The arrested individuals have been identified as Usman Abubakar, Umar Abubakar, Abdulkadir Sulaiman, Abdullahi Naira, and Isiaku Saboyaro.

During initial questioning, the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime and detailed how the kidnapping was carried out. They also identified a sixth accomplice, known as “Wetti,” who remains on the run.

The police command assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and urged residents with relevant information to support the investigation by reaching out through the toll-free number 615 or via the command’s hotlines: 08081768614, 09054133071, and 09061299291.