By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a police inspector during a rescue operation launched after suspected kidnappers abducted a man, Haruna Lawal, from Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu, in Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 24 January, 2026 when armed assailants invaded the victim’s residence and escaped with him and his motorcycle to an unknown location, prompting an immediate police response.
In a statement issued on Sunday,25 January,2026 the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. from a resident of the area, identified as Alimot, who reported that suspected kidnappers armed with dangerous weapons had attacked her brother’s home.
According to Ayanlade, operatives of the command, acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, were swiftly deployed to the area to commence an intensive search-and-rescue operation.
He explained that as patrol vans advanced into the area with sirens blaring and officers conducted aggressive bush-combing, pressure mounted on the suspects.
Consequently, the kidnappers, realising that security operatives were closing in, abandoned the victim and fled the scene.
“The command wishes to inform the general public of the successful rescue of a kidnapped victim following the swift and coordinated response of police operatives, reflecting the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property,” Ayanlade said.
However, he noted that during the confrontation, a police inspector, while courageously repelling the attack, paid the supreme price in the line of duty.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police ordered an immediate manhunt for the fleeing suspects and directed a comprehensive investigation into the attack.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicated that some of the attackers sustained bullet injuries during the exchange, and operatives are currently trailing them.
Meanwhile, the police spokesman disclosed that the rescued victim sustained a head injury during the ordeal.
He said Lawal was promptly taken to the General Hospital in Oyo town, where he is currently receiving appropriate medical attention.
Beyond the rescue, Ayanlade said the operation, which was concluded within hours of the abduction, underscored the professionalism, vigilance and dedication of officers of the Oyo State Police Command in responding decisively to threats against public safety.
Additionally, he said efforts had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects, while investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
The police command further reassured residents of its resolve to ensure that criminals find no hiding place in the state and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
He added that the Commissioner of Police appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his continuous leadership, strategic guidance and unwavering support.
The CP also commended the gallant officers and operatives involved in the operation, in collaboration with strategic partners, for their courage, professionalism and commitment to duty.
