Police arrest three suspected kidnappers in Osun, recover ammunition
The Osun State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of an interstate kidnapping syndicate and recovered a locally fabricated automatic gun with three live cartridges during operations in the state.
The suspects were identified as Umaru Adamu, Nasir Yahya, 21, and Umar Yahya, 24.
The command, in a statement on Wednesday, also announced plans to inaugurate its Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) as part of efforts to strengthen security and tackle violent crimes across Osun State, in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
According to the police, the arrest followed a kidnapping incident reported at the Ijebu-Jesa Police Station on May 5, 2026, at about 3:25am.
The complainant reported that while sleeping at his cattle garden in the Iloko area of Ijebu-Jesa, about six armed men stormed the location, assaulted him and abducted one Yahaya Sulaimon to an unknown destination.
Following the report, the police, in collaboration with local security operatives, launched an intelligence-led operation and combed bushes along the Iloko-Ijesa area in search of the suspects.
The command said that upon sighting the security team, the abductors stabbed the victim in the chest and stomach before fleeing the scene. The victim was rescued and rushed to hospital for treatment, while operatives continued the operation, leading to the arrest of Umaru Adamu with a locally fabricated automatic gun and three live cartridges.
Police added that further investigation by the anti-kidnapping unit led to the arrest of Nasir Yahya in Ajase, Kwara State, and Umar Yahya in the Sabo-Ibodi area of Ilesa, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects connected to the crime.
