During a security operation in Otu, which is in the state’s Oke-Ogun axis, the Oyo State Police Command reported that its agents, working with local hunters and other security agencies, killed three suspected kidnappers and freed a kidnapped victim.
DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement released on Tuesday.
The operation was prompted, according to the statement, by a distress call that was received on May 25, 2026, from local hunters who had allegedly been shot by suspected kidnappers while hunting in Otu.
According to the authorities, no hunters were killed in the first assault.
“A response team comprising police officers, local hunters, and other security agencies was immediately mobilized to the scene at Otu, acting swiftly on the intelligence received,” according to the statement.
It further stated that a gunfight broke out after the security squad was attacked by the alleged kidnappers.
The leadership declared, “The criminals were successfully overpowered, leading to the neutralization of three suspected kidnappers, thanks to superior tactical response and coordinated effort.”
Mosudi Gbolagade, a 50-year-old kidnapped victim who was allegedly seized at Okaka and held captive in the Otu area, was also rescued as a result of the operation, according to the police.
The person was transported for medical care after being shot during the event, according to the statement.
The police also said that a machete, a single-barrel gun, and an AK-47 rifle without ammo were found at the scene by security personnel.
Additionally, the command verified that one of the local hunters was shot during the gunfight and is presently being treated at a hospital.
The state’s commissioner of police commended the operation and highlighted the courage of the local hunters and other security personnel who participated in the rescue effort.
The statement said, “The Command therefore reiterates its unwavering commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against criminal elements throughout the state and urges residents to remain vigilant by providing credible and timely information to security agencies.”
