The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper during an operation to foil the collection of a N10m ransom in Atiba Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect was apprehended at Otefon Village, where members of the gang had reportedly gathered to receive the ransom demanded for the release of an abducted resident, identified as Alhaji Bagudu.
Bagudu was said to have been kidnapped from his residence in Ilowa Village last week and taken into a forest hideout at Otefon, where his captors allegedly held him while negotiating ransom with his family.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that the operation was carried out following credible intelligence provided by operatives of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Oyo State.
According to him, intelligence reports indicated that suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate had assembled in the forest around 1am on Wednesday to collect the ransom from relatives of the victim.
Ayanlade said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbemiga Abimbola, immediately deployed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in collaboration with local vigilantes to the area for a rescue mission and possible arrest of the suspects.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that about six armed men invaded the residence of Alhaji Bagudu on May 9, 2026, abducted him and took him into the forest where they demanded N10m ransom,” the police spokesperson stated.
He explained that after security operatives confirmed the victim had regained his freedom unharmed, they advanced towards the location where the gang members were waiting to collect the ransom.
The police spokesman added that the suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives, leading to a gun duel during which one of the suspects, identified as Mohammed Sanni, was arrested while others escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene included a motorcycle with registration number TUT 824 TY, a mobile phone, a pair of slippers and a cap, all of which, according to the police, are undergoing forensic examination.
Ayanlade noted that the arrested suspect had provided useful information to investigators, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.
He also urged residents of the state to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at curbing criminal activities.