Police Nab Kidnapper Red-Handed During ₦10 Million Ransom Drop

The suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, May 13, during a joint operation conducted at Otefon Village Forest, where members of a kidnapping syndicate had allegedly gathered to receive ransom payment for a victim identified as Alhaji Bagudu, who was abducted from his residence in Ilowa Village on May 9 by armed men.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the operation was launched following credible intelligence provided by operatives of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Oyo State, prompting swift action from security agencies.

He explained that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbemiga Abimbola, directed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad along the Oyo/Iseyin axis to work alongside local vigilantes to ensure the safe rescue of the victim and arrest of the suspects.

Preliminary findings indicated that about six armed men carried out the abduction before taking the victim into the forest, where they demanded ₦10 million ransom for his release.

Security operatives reportedly prioritized the safe recovery of the victim before moving in on the suspects. Following confirmation that the victim had been released unharmed, officers advanced on the location where the ransom exchange was to take place.

However, the operation escalated into a gun duel after the kidnappers opened fire upon sighting the approaching security team. Several suspects reportedly escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds, while one suspect, identified as Mohammed Sanni, was arrested at the scene.

Items recovered during the operation included a motorcycle believed to have been used for logistics, alongside a mobile phone, slippers, and a cap, all of which are undergoing forensic analysis.

The police further disclosed that the arrested suspect had already provided useful confessional statements, while efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing members of the gang and bring them to justice.