Police rescue kidnap victim, recover ₦2.2m ransom in Osun
By Ismail Azeez
The Osun State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim, Haruna Yusuf, recovered ₦2.217 million in ransom money, and arrested a suspected kidnapper during a well-coordinated tactical operation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, stated this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo, where he disclosed recent achievements in the fight against crime across the state.
Gotan said Haruna Yusuf, a 50-year-old Fulani herdsman residing near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan–Ife–Ibadan Road, was abducted by four suspected kidnappers on July 9, 2026.
He noted that police operatives working alongside local vigilantes immediately launched a search operation before transferring the case to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for an intelligence-led investigation.
Gotan stressed that on July 12, operatives closely monitored the ransom payment process at a designated drop-off point in Majeroku along the Ibadan–Ife Expressway, where they successfully rescued the victim unharmed.
“The kidnappers opened fire on sighting the operatives, and our men responded professionally, leading to a gun duel during which some of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries. One suspect, identified as Usman Aliyu, was arrested while others escaped with injuries,” he said.
The Commissioner added that the injured suspect is receiving treatment at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, and the sum of ₦2,217,800, believed to be the ransom money, was recovered at the scene.
He assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.
In another operation, the Police Command arrested three suspected cultists and ritualists in Iree following intelligence reports linking them to criminal activities in the area.
The suspects were identified as Michael Oluwatobi (23), Busayo Joseph (22), and Abu Azeez (23). Gotan stated that preliminary investigations indicate the suspects are members of a cult group and are also being investigated for alleged involvement in ritual-related activities.
Gotan also revealed that another suspected kidnapper, Buhari Mutari, was arrested in the Seyi area of Oyo State following technical intelligence linked to a failed kidnapping attempt at Ijebu-Jesa on May 7, 2026.
He recalled that the principal suspect in the case, Umaru Adamu, had earlier been arrested and paraded by the Command on May 19.