The Oyo State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt at Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu, in Oyo West Local Government Area, rescuing a victim who sustained injuries during the incident.
The victim, identified as Haruna Lawal, was abducted in the early hours of Friday but was rescued alive following a rapid security response by operatives of the command.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan.
According to the statement, police received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. on January 24, 2026, from Alimot, a resident of the Ojongbodu area, who reported that suspected kidnappers armed with weapons had stormed her brother’s residence.
During the invasion, the assailants forcefully abducted Lawal and fled the area with his motorcycle to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the report and acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, operatives of the command immediately swung into action and were deployed to the area,” Ayanlade said.
He explained that the swift response, coupled with an aggressive bush-combing operation, mounted significant pressure on the suspects.
“As police operatives advanced into the area with patrol vans and sirens, the kidnappers, realising that security forces were closing in on them, abandoned the victim and fled,” the statement noted.
Lawal was subsequently rescued and rushed to the General Hospital in Oyo town, where he is currently receiving medical treatment for a head injury sustained during the ordeal.
Ayanlade said the successful rescue, achieved within hours of the abduction, underscored the professionalism, vigilance and operational readiness of the command in responding decisively to threats against public safety in Oyo State.
He added that efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, while investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
The police spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s resolve to ensure criminals have no hiding place in the state and urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police also expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his leadership, strategic guidance and support.
He further commended the officers involved in the operation, as well as strategic partners, for their courage, professionalism and commitment to duty.