07/06/2026
Oyo State Police Command Operation: Rescue of Kidnapped Woman and Her Twin Sons
Suspects and Their Roles in the Kidnapping
The investigation identified the following individuals as members of the kidnapping syndicate and established their respective roles in the operation:
Neutralised Suspects
Kelechi
Kelechi served as a lookout at the gang’s hideout where the victims were held captive. During the police rescue operation, he engaged operatives in a gun battle and was neutralised alongside another gang member.
Unidentified Gang Member
This suspect actively participated in guarding the victims at the hideout and was neutralised during the exchange of gunfire with police operatives.
Arrested Suspects
Wale Abolalewa (Alias “Oloro”)
A key member of the kidnapping syndicate who was already on the police watchlist. His arrest provided critical intelligence that enabled investigators to dismantle significant aspects of the criminal network. He participated in both the planning and ex*****on of the abduction.
Dare Oyedele (Alias “Solution”)
Identified as a principal operational coordinator within the gang, Dare Oyedele was involved in the surveillance of the victims, planning of the operation, and ex*****on of the kidnapping. Both “Oloro” and “Solution” are currently in police custody and are assisting ongoing investigations.
Semiu Ishola (39 Years)
Semiu Ishola acted as an intermediary who facilitated and arranged the use of the criminal hideout located in Lado Community, Ayegun, Ibadan, where the victims were detained.
Adeyemi Ayobami (35 Years)
Adeyemi Ayobami similarly played a facilitative role by helping secure and provide access to the hideout used by the syndicate to hold the victims.
Additional Findings on the Syndicate’s Activities
Investigations revealed that the syndicate carried out extensive surveillance on the victims’ family before the abduction. This included monitoring their daily movements, photographing family vehicles and school environments, and attempting to recruit a household staff member, identified as Segun, in May 2026. After gathering intelligence on the family, the gang executed the kidnapping using an unregistered Toyota Camry.
Police Rescue Operation
1. Initial Response
Following a distress report received on 3 June 2026, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, ordered an immediate intelligence-led manhunt. The operation involved personnel from the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), the Oyo State Police Command, and other tactical units.
2. Intelligence and Investigation
Investigators combined crime scene analysis, digital intelligence, and surveillance operations to track the suspects. The arrest of Wale Abolalewa (“Oloro”) proved pivotal, leading to additional arrests and the identification of the gang’s hideout in Lado Community, Ayegun, Ibadan.
3. Tactical Raid
On 6 June 2026 at approximately 7:30 p.m., police operatives launched a coordinated assault on the hideout. Upon arrival, Kelechi opened fire on the team, prompting a swift tactical response. Two kidnappers were neutralised during the confrontation while officers successfully secured the safety of the victims.
4. Rescue Outcome
The kidnapped woman and her twin sons were rescued unharmed, placed under protective custody, and subsequently reunited with their family.
Items recovered during the operation included:
- Three pump-action rifles
- Fourteen live cartridges
- An unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla used in the abduction
- Criminal charms
- A battle axe
- A hammer
- Suspected hard drugs
- Face masks
Ongoing Investigation
Investigations remain ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, some of whom are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the operation.
The Oyo State Police Command has appealed to members of the public, particularly healthcare providers and medical facilities, to promptly report any individuals presenting with suspicious gunshot injuries.
