Oyo: Police Arrest Notorious Kidnapper, Recover AK-47

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper operating along state boundaries and recovered an AK-47 rifle in a coordinated and intelligence-led operation.

In a Sunday statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, police said the breakthrough followed credible information from a vigilant resident who reported the presence of three armed men sighted around the forest and farmland in the Ikoyi-Ile area.

According to the statement, a joint security team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Ikoyi-Ile Division, while acting on the tip-off, carried out a combing operation of the surrounding bushes, leading to the arrest of one suspect identified as Muhammadu Abubakar.

Items recovered from the suspect include an AK-47 rifle with breach number 6628/2274, six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and three live cartridges.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to involvement in a series of kidnapping activities along the Ogbomoso–Ikoyi-Ile axis and is said to be cooperating with investigators.

Police sources also revealed that he had been on the Command’s watchlist and is linked to cross-border criminal operations.

The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, has ordered the transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further discreet investigation, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.

The CP commended officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and also appreciated the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for enhancing operational efficiency across commands.

The Command reiterated the importance of public cooperation in tackling crime, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

The Command also reaffirmed its commitment to ridding the state of violent crimes, including kidnapping and banditry, assuring that efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the criminal network.