One suspected kidnapper killed as police rescue 15-year-old boy in Oyo

Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have rescued a 15-year-old boy abducted from Akinyele Local Government Area.

They also killed a suspected kidnapper during a gun duel along the Awe–Iwo Road axis, as a manhunt continues for fleeing members of the gang.

The victim, identified as Sumaila Muhammadu, was abducted from the Onidundun area of Akinyele on October 18, 2026, while the kidnappers were reportedly demanding a ransom for his release.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said in a statement on Sunday that the Command received credible intelligence about the incident at about 5pm on October 22.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Section, AKS, working with the Oyo Zone Vigilante Group of Nigeria, to rescue the victim and apprehend the suspects.

The operatives moved to the Pipeline, Ajagba axis along the Awe–Iwo Road, where a gun duel broke out at about 9:30pm after the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the advancing security team.

“Despite the attack, the operatives successfully rescued the victim, identified as Sumaila Muhammadu, a 15-year-old male, while one yet-to-be-identified suspected kidnapper was neutralised,” the statement said.

The deceased suspect was taken to a hospital, where a doctor confirmed him dead, before his body was deposited at the morgue.

The operatives also recovered an Android mobile phone and a cutlass during the operation.

The Command urged residents, particularly those around the Awe–Iwo Road axis and neighbouring communities, to report anyone with suspicious gunshot wounds, warning that such information could help track down the fleeing suspects.

Medical practitioners, hospital administrators and other healthcare workers were also asked to notify the police if anyone seeks treatment for gunshot injuries suspected to be connected with the incident. Reports can be made at the nearest police station or through the Command’s established communication channels.

The Commissioner of Police assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations and strengthen cooperation with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks and prevent kidnapping across the state.

He urged the public to provide timely and credible information to support security efforts.