Bandits Attack Travellers, Abduct 4 Persons Along Igbeti-Kishi Road

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four persons along the Igbeti–Kishi road, Oyo State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ayanlade Olayinka, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the commissioner of police, had immediately directed the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Kishi and Igbeti Divisions, supported by other tactical teams, to deploy all necessary operational assets to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the prompt arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

He said coordinated search and rescue efforts are currently underway, with security operatives combing the surrounding areas and intensifying intelligence gathering to track down the suspects.

“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and urges members of the public to remain calm while providing any useful information that could assist ongoing operations.

It was gathered that gunmen known locally as bandits have attacked vehicles travelling on routes in Oyo and Kwara states, abducting several passengers.

A commercial driver, whose colleague was among the victims, said that the attack occurred on Wednesday night, March 4.

The vehicle operates along the Kishi–Ibadan axis.

He added that the assailants seized about eight passengers from three different vehicles.

Two additional reliable sources confirmed the attack with one noting that she saw security forces’ aircraft patrolling the skies in Kishi town on Thursday morning, March 5, a sight she described as “very unusual.”

The source stated that vigilante members have been dispatched into the forests for a rescue mission.