Police arrest two suspected kidnappers, rescue five-year-old girl in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued a five-year-old girl, Fikayo Gbemiga, who was abducted from her family’s residence in the Iyana Offa area of Ibadan.

The command disclosed on Tuesday that the suspects were apprehended during a sustained intelligence-led operation carried out by its Anti-Kidnapping Squad, which also led to the safe rescue of the child without injuries.

According to the police, the victim was abducted on July 3, 2026, after the suspects allegedly gained unlawful access to her family’s residence before demanding a ransom of N10 million for her release.

Ayanlade Olayinka Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, said operatives immediately launched an intensive investigation, deploying technology and other investigative tools to trace the suspects and locate their hideout.

The Command said the operation culminated in the arrest of the principal suspects, identified as 37-year-old Adegboye Seyi Sunday and 25-year-old Adegboye Elijah Adefemi, at about 10:30 p.m. on July 11 at their hideout in the Mojoyin Molade area of Iwo Road, Ibadan.

According to the police, officers stormed the hideout after acting on credible intelligence generated during the investigation, rescuing the five-year-old girl at about 10:35 p.m. before the suspects could relocate her or evade arrest.

“The operatives leveraged technology and other investigative tools to identify the suspects’ hideout, rescue the victim, immediately take her for medical care and arrest the suspects,” the statement said.

Police investigations further revealed that the suspects had already received N1 million from the victim’s family as part of negotiations for her release.

The ransom payment, according to the command, was made on July 8 at Gbongan in neighbouring Osun State.

The police said the suspects are currently cooperating with investigators, while efforts are ongoing to recover the N1 million ransom and apprehend other members of the kidnapping syndicate who remain at large.

Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, praised their professionalism, resilience and dedication in rescuing the child and apprehending the suspects.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and strengthened collaboration with residents.

Olugbenga also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely, credible and actionable information to security agencies, assuring them that all useful intelligence would be treated confidentially and acted upon promptly.