The Oyo State Police Command prevented a kidnapping attempt on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Onigambari along the Mamu/Ijebu-Ode Road. The incident occurred at about 6:30 pm when suspected gunmen attacked vehicles carrying passengers returning from a social event in Ibadan. Police said the victims fled into nearby bushes for safety but were later located and reunited with their families. Ayanlade Olayinka, the command's spokesperson, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the suspects' plan was disrupted following a prompt police response to a distress call. Two individuals sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at Amazing Hospital and Ibadan Central Hospital. Other victims who reported to the Awa-Ijebu Police Division in Ogun State are also receiving medical care. The police have launched an investigation and are actively pursuing the perpetrators. Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olugbenga has ordered additional operatives to be deployed to the area to improve security. The command urged the public to remain calm and provide any information that could aid the investigation.
The police claim they responded promptly to a distress call on April 18, yet the attack unfolded at 6:30 pm and targeted multiple vehicles without interception. Two victims are in hospital with gunshot wounds, and others sought help at a police division in another state, raising questions about real-time security coverage on the route. If passengers had to flee into bushes for safety, the response was not fast enough to prevent harm. The deployment of more operatives after the incident suggests reactive rather than preventive policing.
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