Police rescue abducted Oyo couple after gun battle with kidnappers
By Adejayan Gbenga
A coordinated security operation involving the Oyo State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters has led to the successful rescue of a couple abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
The victims, identified as Alhaji Busiru Booni and his wife, Alhaja Pitiku, were rescued unharmed after security operatives traced the kidnappers to a forest hideout following their abduction from Tiro Village in Irawo on Saturday, July 5, 2026. The gunmen had reportedly invaded the community, fired sporadically and whisked the couple away to an unknown destination.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately directed the launch of a coordinated search-and-rescue operation after receiving reports of the incident. The operation brought together police operatives, the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, local vigilantes and hunters.
The command said the operation recorded an early breakthrough with the recovery of a Bajaj motorcycle that had earlier been reported stolen and abandoned in a nearby bush. Supported by intelligence gathering and the deployment of technological resources, the discovery enabled security operatives to locate the kidnappers’ hideout deep inside the forest.
Police said the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the advancing security team, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire. However, the suspects reportedly fled into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot wounds after abandoning the victims under sustained pressure from the joint security operatives.
The rescued couple was immediately taken to a medical facility for evaluation and treatment. The police said they were later certified medically fit by doctors before being discharged and reunited with their family.
The command appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and support ongoing efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects by reporting anyone seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds or presenting injuries believed to have been sustained during the gun battle. It noted that credible and timely information from residents would assist investigators and help prevent further criminal activities.
The Oyo State Police Command commended the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, hunters and members of the community for their cooperation and timely intelligence, describing their collaboration as instrumental to the success of the operation. The command also reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property while intensifying efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers and other criminal elements.
