Oyo Police Nab Kidnap Suspects, Dismiss Mass Abduction Rumours
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects following the abduction of two employees from the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan. Armed men invaded the institute premises at Idi-Ayunre on Tuesday evening, dragging the workers into the nearby forest. A joint security team tracked the attackers, leading to a gunfight and the capture of two men. Meanwhile, authorities have strongly dismissed viral social media reports alleging a separate mass kidnapping within the state capital.
The arrest occurred on Wednesday morning when an anti-kidnapping squad encountered the two suspects, identified as Shehu and Abubakar. During interrogation, the pair offered to lead the officers to the hidden camp of their accomplices. However, as the police team approached the location, hidden gunmen opened fire to free the captured suspects. Officers repelled the ambush and extracted both detainees, who remain in custody to provide further intelligence.
While the rescue operation continues, panic has spread online regarding a purported mass abduction in the Abanla area of Ibadan. The state police command labelled these claims entirely false and highly irresponsible. Security officials stated that no other kidnapping has occurred in the metropolis outside of the institute raid. They warned that spreading unverified stories creates unnecessary public anxiety and stretches emergency response assets thin.
This latest raid marks the second time this year that the research institute has faced such an assault. In March, armed men abducted five visiting representatives from a regional farmers’ association at the facility nursery. While security forces rescued two victims quickly, the remaining farmers gained freedom only after their families paid substantial ransoms. The recurring nature of these raids highlights the persistent vulnerability of agricultural research hubs located on city fringes.
The state government is now facing renewed pressure to secure the forested boundaries of Oluyole Local Government Area. Criminal gangs frequently use these dense thickets to conceal victims while negotiating payments. Police Commissioner Olugbemiga Abimbola has deployed extra tactical units to comb the bush tracks and restore order. For now, nervous residents must rely on these intensified patrols to keep the highways safe.