Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, working alongside local hunters and other security agencies, have killed three suspected kidnappers and rescued an abducted man during a coordinated operation in Otu, in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the operation was launched after a distress call from local hunters who reportedly came under heavy gunfire from suspected kidnappers while on a hunting expedition in the Otu forest.

According to the police, the hunters escaped the initial ambush without casualties and immediately alerted security agencies, prompting the rapid deployment of a joint response team to the area.

On arrival at the scene, the security team was said to have come under fire from the armed gang, triggering a fierce gun battle in the thick forest.

Police authorities said the operatives, leveraging superior firepower and coordinated tactics with the hunters and other security personnel, overpowered the assailants, killing three of the suspected kidnappers.

During the operation, the team rescued a man identified as Mosudi Gbolagade, about 50 years old, who was allegedly abducted in Okaka and held in captivity within the Otu axis.

The police said Gbolagade sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation and was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

One of the local hunters who took part in the operation was also reported to have suffered gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment in hospital.

Items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle without ammunition, a single-barrel gun and a machete, which the police believe were used by the gang to terrorise residents and travellers in the area.

The Commissioner of Police commended the bravery and swift response of the local hunters and other security stakeholders, describing the operation as a demonstration of the effectiveness of community-based intelligence and joint security efforts.

The command urged residents of Oyo State, particularly those in rural and border communities, to remain vigilant and promptly share credible information on suspicious movements or criminal activities with security agencies.

The police reiterated their commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against kidnappers and other violent criminals across the state, stressing that such coordinated actions are crucial to restoring public confidence and safety in vulnerable communities.