The Oyo state Police command has rescued two kidnapped victims from Gbonka forest in Oorelope local government area of the state.
The Oyo state Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement Thursday, said one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised by men of the command during a shootout in the forest.
DSP Ayanlade added that on Monday, June 29, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m, armed men suspected to be kidnappers invaded the camp of Alhaji Gbonkan at Gaa Alhaji, Gbonkan, via Ipapo.
He stated that the “assailants fired sporadically to instill fear before abducting three adult males identified as Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Aliu Usman, and Saliu Abubakar.”
He said: “pon receipt of the distress report, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo state Police command, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ipapo Division, to coordinate a robust joint security operation involving operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), and local hunters.
“The intensive operation eventually led security operatives to the kidnappers’ hideout deep within the forest. Upon sighting the advancing security team, the hoodlums opened fire in a desperate attempt to evade arrest, resulting in a fierce gun duel.
“In the ensuing exchange, one of the suspected abductors was neutralised, while other members of the gang fled into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds. One operative of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) sustained injuries during the encounter and is currently responding to medical treatment,” Ayanlade said.