Police Inspector killed as officers rescue kidnap victim in Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a police inspector during a rescue operation involving a kidnapped resident, Haruna Lawal, in Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu, within Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred in the early hours of January 24, 2026, when suspected kidnappers invaded the victim’s residence and abducted him at gunpoint.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command received a distress call around 2:10 a.m. from a woman identified as Alimot, who reported that armed assailants had stormed her brother’s house.

According to the police, the attackers abducted Lawal and fled the area with his motorcycle to an unknown location.

Ayanlade said operatives of the command, acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, were immediately deployed to the scene, launching an aggressive search operation.

“As police operatives advanced into the area with patrol vans and sirens, the kidnappers, realising that security forces were closing in, abandoned the victim and fled,” the statement said.

Lawal was rescued alive but sustained a head injury during the ordeal. He was promptly taken to the General Hospital, Oyo, where he is currently receiving medical attention.

However, during the operation, a police inspector was fatally wounded while repelling the attackers.

“An inspector, while courageously repelling the attack, paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” the police said.

Following the development, CP Haruna ordered an immediate manhunt for the fleeing suspects and directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicate that some of the attackers sustained gunshot injuries and are currently being tracked.

The police command said efforts have been intensified to arrest the suspects, while investigations remain ongoing.

Ayanlade reassured residents of the command’s commitment to public safety, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

The commissioner also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his leadership and support, while praising the gallant officers involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.