Police Rescue Kidnapped Herder, Recover ₦2.2m Ransom in Osun.

The Osun State Police Command has rescued a 50-year-old herder who was kidnapped by suspected gunmen and recovered ₦2.22 million believed to be ransom money during a security operation.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan disclosed the development during a press briefing on Wednesday, saying the victim, Haruna Yusuf, was rescued unharmed through an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Command's Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

According to the police, Yusuf was abducted on July 9, 2026, by four armed kidnappers near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road. Following the report, security operatives, working with local vigilantes, launched a search before the case was transferred to the anti-kidnapping unit for further investigation.

The breakthrough came on July 12 when police monitored the ransom payment to a designated drop-off point at Majeroku along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway. As officers moved in to rescue the victim, the kidnappers opened fire, leading to a gun battle.

One suspect, identified as 40-year-old Usman Aliyu, was arrested after sustaining gunshot injuries, while other members of the gang escaped. Aliyu is currently receiving treatment at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.

Police also recovered ₦2,217,800 suspected to be ransom proceeds at the scene. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

In a separate operation, the police arrested three suspected cultists and ritual suspects in Iree. The suspects — Michael Oluwatobi, Busayo Joseph, and Abu Azeez — were allegedly found with a small coffin and traditional charms. Investigations are ongoing to determine their involvement in cult-related and ritual activities.

The Commissioner also announced the arrest of another suspected kidnapper, Buhari Mutari, in Oyo State over an attempted abduction in Ijebu-Jesa earlier this year. The arrest followed the earlier capture of the alleged gang leader, Umaru Adamu.

Additionally, eight other suspects were arrested during raids targeting criminal hideouts across Osun State for offences including theft, possession of suspected Indian hemp, and hooliganism.

Gotan reaffirmed the Command's commitment to fighting kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, ritual killings, and other violent crimes, urging residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies to improve public safety.

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