A 17-year-old boy abducted by suspected kidnappers in Oyo State has been rescued unhurt following a coordinated operation involving the police, Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters.
The victim, identified as Daneri Alhaji Yaro, was kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Aladere Village, via Ikoyi-Ile, near the Government Reserve Forest.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka.
According to the statement, the rescue mission was launched after the victim’s father, Alhaji Yaro Babuga, reported the abduction at the Ikoyi-Ile Divisional Police Headquarters.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer swiftly deployed a joint security team comprising police operatives, personnel of the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and local hunters to track down the kidnappers and secure the victim’s release.
The combined team conducted an extensive search of the surrounding bushes and the adjoining Government Reserve Forest, piling sustained pressure on the abductors.
The police said the operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the teenager before fleeing deeper into the forest.
“The sustained pressure mounted by the operatives proved decisive, forcing the kidnappers to abandon the victim and flee deeper into the Government Reserve Forest. The victim was rescued unhurt and has since been reunited with his family,” the statement said.
The command disclosed that security operatives have intensified intelligence-led operations across the forest and surrounding communities to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
It added that investigations into the incident are ongoing, with efforts focused on ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, praised the professionalism, courage and collaboration displayed by all security agencies and local stakeholders involved in the rescue mission.
He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven policing and sustaining inter-agency cooperation to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and enhancing public safety.
