The Oyo State Police Command announced, it successfully destroyed a kidnapping ring syndicate which has been operating in Ipapo, Okaka, and communities in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State.
It further announced, five (5) members of the kidnapping gang are currently in Police custody assisting the investigation.
This was disclosed via a Statement titled ‘Oyo State Police Command dismantles kidnapping ring, recovers ransom’, signed by CSP Osifeso Adewale mnipr, Police Public Relations Officer, for Commissioner of Police, on Saturday 5 July, 2025.
The Statement reads: “The Oyo State Police Command has successfully dismantled a kidnapping syndicate operating in Ipapo, Okaka, and communities in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State. Five members of the kidnapping gang are currently in custody, assisting the police investigation.
“2.On June 26, 2025, at about 23:00 hours, the residence of one Timothy at Mokorede, Ipapo, in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, was attacked by a group of six armed men. During the invasion, the armed men forcibly abducted Timothy and took him to an unknown destination.
“3.Upon receiving a distress call regarding the kidnapping incident, the Divisional Police Officer, Ipapo Divisional Police Headquarters promptly mobilized detectives and Divisional Patrol team in conjunction with other security stakeholders including members of the WNSN (Amotekun corps), loval hunters, Fulani vigilante and embarked on a search and rescue operation.
“The incident was also reported to neighbouring police formations to facilitate a swift rescue and apprehension of the perpetrators.
“4.On June 30, 2025, at about 0940Hrs, following a meticulous intelligence-led investigation and substantial cooperation from public-spirited individuals, police operatives from Okaka Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Okaka, apprehended five members of a kidnapping gang.
“The arrest was made at a local rendezvous within the Okaka community, where the suspects were found sharing money collected as ransom from the family of the kidnapped victim prior to his release.
“5.The arrested suspects gave their details as follows as:
i.Usman Abubakar, Aged 30
ii.Umar Abubakar, Aged 21
iii.Abdulkadir Sulaiman, Aged 22
iv.Abdullahi Naira, Aged 23
v.Isiaku Saboyaro, Aged 30
“6.During the operation, a cash sum of ₦4,618,700.00, being part of the ransom collected from the victim’s family, was recovered.
“7.In a breakthrough during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, volunteering details on how it was planned and executed, including the roles played by each member of the gang.
“They further revealed that a total of six individuals were involved in the kidnapping, including their gang leader, known as ‘Wetti,’ who remains at large and is currently being actively pursued by the Command.
“8.Investigation into the kidnapping case is ongoing, as the Command is working diligently to apprehend the remaining suspect involved in this heinous crime.
“The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Oyo State and urges anyone with information about the gang leader or any other criminal occurrence to come forward.”
