Osun Police bust kidnap syndicate, recover weapons

By Isa Isawade

Police in Osun State have bust a kidnap syndicate alleged to be behind the kidnap of a cattle rearer in Iloko area of Ijebu-Jesa on May 5.

This was revealed at a press conference on Tuesday by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan at the command’s Headquarters, Ring Road, Osogbo.

According to the CP, three suspected members of the inter-state kidnap syndicate were arrested with a locally fabricated automatic gun and 3 live cartridges recovered from them.

The arrested suspects who were all males are Umaru Adamu; Nasir Yahya, aged 21, and Umar Yahya, aged 24 years.

“You all will recall that on 5/5/2026 at about 3:25am the complainant reported at Ijebu-Jesa police station that while he was sleeping at his cattle garden along Iloko area, Ijebu-Jesa, unidentified persons numbering about six suspected to be kidnappers who were armed with guns & sticks appeared suddenly and started beating him demanding the whereabout of the victim one Yahaya Sulaimon and consequently, he was abducted and taken to unknown destination,” CP Gotan narrated.

He added that, upon the report, police went on the trail of the suspects.

According to him, he swiftly directed an intelligence-led and coordinated operation comprising the police and local securities.

He said that while the team were on patrol along Iloko-Ijesa combing bushes, the abductors on sighting the operatives stabbed the victim on his chest and stomach and fled the scene.

“The victim was tactically rescued and rushed to the hospital by some detachment of the team while others continued with the bush combing. In the process one of the suspects, Umaru Adamu, was arrested with one locally fabricated automatic gun with three live cartridges.

“On my order, the case was subsequently transferred to the Anti-kidnapping unit of the command for more discreet investigation.

“An intelligence led investigation carried out by the section led to the arrest of two other suspects- Nasir Yahaya in Ajase, Kwara State and Umaru Yahaya in Sabo-Ibodi, Ilesa in connection with the kidnapping incident,” Gotan said.

He assured that serious investigation was still being intensified to arrest other suspects connected to the crime.