The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police inspector during a gun battle with suspected kidnappers, even as operatives successfully rescued an abducted victim in Oyo town.
In a statement issued on Saturday, January 25, 2026, the Command said the rescue followed a swift and coordinated response by its operatives after a distress call was received in the early hours of Friday.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the Command received a report at about 2.10 a.m. on January 24, 2026, from a woman identified as Alimot, of the Ojongbodu area of Oyo State.
She reported that suspected kidnappers armed with dangerous weapons had invaded her brother’s residence.
During the attack, the assailants abducted Haruna Lawal, a male resident of Olorunda Village via Oyo, and escaped with his motorcycle to an unknown location.
Following the report and on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, operatives were immediately deployed to the area.
The police said an aggressive bush combing operation was launched, with patrol vans and sirens used to apply pressure on the fleeing suspects.
The Command said the kidnappers, realising that security operatives were closing in on them, abandoned the victim and fled. Haruna Lawal was subsequently rescued alive.
The rescued victim, who sustained a head injury during the ordeal, was taken to the General Hospital, Oyo, where he is currently receiving medical attention.
The police described the rescue, which was achieved within hours of the abduction, as a demonstration of the professionalism, vigilance and dedication of officers of the Command in responding to threats against public safety.
However, when contacted for further clarification, the police spokesman confirmed that an инспектор of police was killed during the operation.
“Yes, there was an attack on police operatives during which an Inspector, while courageously repelling the attack, paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” DSP Olayinka said.
He added that upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police ordered an immediate manhunt and a comprehensive investigation into the attack.
Preliminary findings, according to the Command, indicate that some of the attackers sustained bullet injuries and are currently being tracked by operatives.
The Commissioner of Police commended the gallant officers involved in the operation, as well as strategic partners who supported the effort, for their courage and commitment to duty.
He also appreciated the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, for his leadership and continued support.
The Command said efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice, assuring residents that adequate security measures had been put in place across the state.
Members of the public were urged to remain calm and vigilant, and to report individuals with gunshot injuries, those seeking medical attention under suspicious circumstances, or anyone exhibiting suspicious behaviour to the nearest police station or security agency.
The Oyo State Police Command also reaffirmed its resolve to ensure that criminals find no hiding place in the state.