Oyo Police rescue kidnapped couple in Oke-Ogun forest

The Oyo State Police Command has rescued two persons who were abducted by suspected kidnappers in Tiro Village, Irawo, in the Oke-Ogun area of the state, following a coordinated security operation involving multiple agencies.

The victims, identified as Alhaji Busiru Booni and his wife, Alhaja Pitiku, were reportedly kidnapped on the night of Saturday, July 5, 2026, when about five armed men invaded the community.

According to the police, the gunmen fired several shots into the air to scare residents before forcefully taking the couple to an unknown destination.

In a statement, the Command said the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately directed a comprehensive search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress report on the incident.

The operation brought together police tactical teams, operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilantes, hunters, and members of the community.

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During the search, security operatives recovered a Bajaj motorcycle that had earlier been reported stolen and abandoned in a nearby bush. The discovery, alongside the deployment of technology and intelligence gathering, enabled the joint security team to trace the suspected kidnappers’ hideout deep inside the forest.

The police said the suspects opened fire on the advancing security personnel, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

However, taking advantage of the dense forest terrain, the kidnappers managed to escape with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, abandoning the kidnapped couple at the scene.

The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to a medical facility, where they received medical attention. After being certified medically fit, they were discharged and reunited with their family.

The Police Command has appealed to residents to remain vigilant and promptly report anyone seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds or exhibiting suspicious behaviour at hospitals, clinics, or within their communities, noting that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The command also praised the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, hunters, and members of the community for their cooperation, timely intelligence, and support, which it said played a critical role in the successful rescue operation.

Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Oyo State, the police urged residents to continue providing credible and actionable information that would assist security agencies in tracking down criminal elements and improving public safety.