Police Rescue Abducted Couple After Gun Battle With Kidnappers in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has rescued an abducted couple unharmed following a coordinated security operation that led to a gun battle with suspected kidnappers in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

The victims, identified as Alhaji Busiru Booni and his wife, Alhaja Pitiku, regained their freedom after security operatives forced their abductors to flee during an operation to locate their hideout.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the couple was abducted on the night of July 5, 2026, when about five armed men stormed Tiro Village in Irawo, fired several gunshots into the air and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered an immediate search-and-rescue operation involving police tactical teams, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, local vigilantes and hunters.

During the operation, security operatives recovered a Bajaj motorcycle that had earlier been reported stolen and abandoned in a nearby bush.

Police said the recovery of the motorcycle, combined with the deployment of technology and intelligence, enabled the joint security team to trace the kidnappers' hideout.

According to the command, the suspected kidnappers opened fire immediately they sighted the advancing security personnel, triggering a gun battle.

However, the security operatives overpowered the suspects, who fled into the surrounding forest with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoning the abducted couple during their escape.

The victims were subsequently rescued unharmed and taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.

Doctors later confirmed that both were in stable condition, after which they were discharged and reunited with their family.

The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the abduction.

The command appealed to residents to report anyone seeking unusual medical treatment or presenting with suspected gunshot wounds, noting that such information could prove vital in tracking down the kidnappers.

It also commended the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, hunters and members of the community for their cooperation and timely intelligence, describing their support as instrumental to the success of the rescue operation.

The Oyo State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining joint security operations aimed at protecting lives and property and combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.