Police rescue Kwara monarch, two others, kill kidnapper
August 27, 2026 10:10 pm
Onigbesi of Igbesi, Oba Moses Omotayo. CREDIT: Kwara Police Command
The Kwara State Police Command has rescued the Onigbesi of Igbesi, Oba Moses Omotayo, and two other kidnapped victims, days after the monarch was reportedly abducted by gunmen in Igbesi community, Isin Local Government Area of the state.
The monarch and the two others were reportedly abducted at Igbesi on August 22, 2026.
The victims were rescued during a security operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis of the state.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command.
Ejire-Adeyemi said the operation began after a report was received at about 10am at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante identified as Abdul, who reported that one of his men had sustained a gunshot injury to the hand while in the bush around Elerin/Ijomu-Oro.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the DPO, Oro Police Station, led a combined team of Police operatives, military personnel and vigilantes to the reported location.
“On sighting the advancing security team, the suspected kidnappers opened fire, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire during which one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised, forcing the remaining members of the gang to flee into the surrounding terrain.
“In a determined pursuit operation, the security team maintained pressure on the fleeing criminals and subsequently rescued the Onigbesi of Igbesi and the two other kidnapped victims, identified as Maryam Abubakar and Aisha Ilyasu,” the statement read.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to a hospital, where they received medical attention and were said to be safe.
The command described the operation as a result of intelligence-led policing, inter-agency collaboration and rapid operational response.
The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, commended the police operatives and other security personnel involved in the operation.
The command said efforts had been intensified to track and arrest the fleeing members of the kidnapping gang, adding that further operations were being sustained across identified flashpoints.
“The Commissioner reiterates that there will be no safe haven for kidnappers and other violent criminals in Kwara State, and calls on members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies,” the statement said.
The latest development comes days after PUNCH Online reported that gunmen had allegedly abducted the traditional ruler of Igbesi land after invading the community on August 22.
The earlier report said the attackers fired shots during the operation and took the traditional ruler into the bush. Igbesi is a community within Oke-Onigbin town in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
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