Five suspected members of a kidnapping gang operating in the Ipapo and Okaka communities of Itesiwaju Local Government Area, Oyo State, have been arrested while sharing ransom money collected from the family of a victim.
The suspects were apprehended at a local hideout within the Okaka community prior to the release of the abducted victim, a man identified as Timothy.
Confirming the arrest on Friday, the spokesman of the State Police Command, CSP Adewale Osifeso, said the breakthrough followed coordinated efforts by police operatives and local security outfits.
“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,” he said.
Osifeso explained that upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Ipapo mobilized detectives and patrol teams in collaboration with the Amotekun corps, local hunters, Fulani vigilante, and other security stakeholders to begin a search and rescue mission.
“The incident was also reported to neighbouring police formations to facilitate a swift rescue and apprehension of the perpetrators.
“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.”
He gave the names of the arrested suspects as: Usman Abubakar, 30; Umar Abubakar, 21; Abdulkadir Sulaiman, 22; Abdullahi Naira, 23; and Isiaku Saboyaro, 30.
During the arrest, police recovered a cash sum of ₦4,618,700.00, which Osifeso said was part of the ransom paid by the victim’s family.
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“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,” he added.
Osifeso said investigation is ongoing and urged Oyo State residents with useful information to support the police in arresting the fleeing gang leader.
“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,” he said.
