The Oyo State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt in Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu area of Oyo West Local Government Area, rescuing a victim who sustained a head injury during the ordeal.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan, describing the operation as a swift, intelligence-led response that prevented the suspected kidnappers from escaping with their victim.

According to the police, the command received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. on January 24, 2026, from a resident identified as Alimot, who reported that armed men suspected to be kidnappers had stormed her brother’s residence at Ojongbodu and abducted him.

The victim, Haruna Lawal, a resident of Olorunda Village, was taken away by the assailants, who also seized his motorcycle and headed towards an unknown location under the cover of darkness.
“Upon receipt of the report and acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, operatives of the command immediately swung into action and were deployed to the area,” Ayanlade said.

He explained that the police launched an aggressive bush-combing operation, deploying patrol vans and activating sirens in a coordinated pursuit aimed at cutting off the escape routes of the suspects.
“As police operatives advanced into the area with patrol vans and sirens, the kidnappers, realising that security forces were closing in on them, abandoned the victim and fled,” the statement added.

Lawal was rescued only hours after the abduction and rushed to the General Hospital in Oyo town, where he is currently receiving treatment for a head injury sustained during the incident. Medical sources said his condition is stable.

Ayanlade noted that the successful rescue underscored the professionalism, vigilance and dedication of the Oyo State Police Command in responding decisively to threats against public safety, particularly crimes involving abduction and violence.
He added that efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, while investigations into the incident were ongoing to uncover the network behind the attempted kidnapping.

The police spokesperson reassured residents that the command remains committed to ensuring criminals find no hiding place in Oyo, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
In the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his leadership, strategic guidance and support.

Haruna also lauded the officers and operatives involved in the operation, as well as strategic partners, for their courage, professionalism and commitment to duty.