Law enforcement fatally shoots alleged robber, frees kidnapped farmer in Oyo state

The Oyo State Police Command has achieved significant successes in combating violent crime, including the thwarting of a robbery attempt in Iseyin and the rescue of an abducted farmer in the Irawo area.

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This breakthrough resulted in the death of one robbery suspect, the arrest of two others, and the apprehension of four suspected kidnappers linked to the farmer's abduction.

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A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, on Thursday in Ibadan, revealed that the attempted robbery occurred around 2 am along Saki Road in Iseyin, following credible intelligence about an ongoing attack at a previously targeted residence.

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According to Ayanlade, the attempted robbery was foiled when detectives were immediately deployed to the scene, where they discovered that about five armed men had invaded the residence, prompting a gun duel with the resident security guard.

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The gun duel led to the killing of one suspect and the arrest of two others, while other gang members escaped with suspected gunshot injuries, as stated in the police statement.

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The police recovered several items from the suspects, including a locally made cut-to-size gun, one expended cartridge, one live cartridge, five mobile phones, two power banks, and cash suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities.

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Ayanlade noted that one of the victims of an earlier robbery incident in the area positively identified the suspects as members of the gang that attacked his residence on April 13, 2026.

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The police have intensified investigations to determine the suspects' involvement in other robbery operations within and outside the area, with the case transferred to the Command Monitoring Unit for further investigation.

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In a related development, the command confirmed the rescue of Quadri Oloriegbe, a farmer abducted on April 29, 2026, at Olopoto Village via Abugbudu in the Irawo area of Oyo State.

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The victim was kidnapped by five armed men who stormed the community, firing gunshots before taking him to an unknown location, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, to order a coordinated rescue operation.

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The rescue operation involved police tactical teams, Agbekoya operatives, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes, and local hunters, and was aided by sustained bush-combing operations and intelligence-led surveillance.

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The arrest of a suspect, Umaru Bokolo, provided useful information that aided the rescue mission, ultimately leading to the victim's rescue on May 5, 2026.

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Following his rescue, the victim was taken for medical evaluation before being reunited with his family, according to the police statement.

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Further operations led to the arrest of three additional suspects, Zada Abubakar, Husein Rabiu, and Abubakar Mohammed, in connection with the abduction, and they will be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation and prosecution.

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Abimbola commended the security operatives and local security outfits involved in both operations, urging residents to continue supporting law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information.