Police arrest suspected kidnappers, ritualists, armed robbers in Oyo
Oyo State Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Ritualists, and Armed Robbers
The Oyo State Police have apprehended several individuals suspected of involvement in kidnapping, ritual killings, and armed robbery, according to officials.
Police Commissioner Abimbola Olugbenga held a press conference in Ibadan on Thursday, detailing the arrests, which occurred at various times and locations throughout the state. During these operations, law enforcement recovered multiple items from the suspects that serve as evidence.
Olugbenga confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with plans to charge the suspects in court once the inquiries are complete. He noted that on February 24, 2026, a case regarding the theft of vehicles was transferred from the Ojoo Division to the Command Monitoring Unit. A suspect identified as Adegboyega Joseph led police to recover the keys of nine Toyota vehicles during the investigation. This process also resulted in the arrest of another suspect, Adebayo Muideen, who was identified as a receiver of the stolen vehicles.
Additionally, a suspect named Adeyemi Abiodun was arrested and found to be in possession of a pump-action gun, six live cartridges, two spent cartridges, and several mobile phones. During questioning, Abiodun admitted to participating in multiple armed robbery incidents across Ibadan and surrounding areas. Following his confession, a joint team from the Command Monitoring Unit and Akobo Division targeted a hideout, leading to the arrest of three additional suspects: Olaoluwa Ponle, Ahmed Ismaila, and Gbolabo Adisa.
On April 14, 2026, police acted on credible intelligence to arrest a suspected ritualist, Alfa Egbinola Tijani, in the Ogbere Tioya area of Ibadan. His disclosure facilitated the apprehension of accomplices Alawiye Lateef Abaniseloluwa Abass and Kehinde Ajao at separate locations in the city.
In a related incident on January 20, 2026, six members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate, armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, invaded the home of a resident named Supodu Saheed in Baabi village, near Oyo town.
The police are urging the public to provide any further information that may assist in the ongoing investigations.
