Igboho’s Iru Ekun, Police IRT Free Kidnapped Mother, Two-Year-Old Son in Kwara Forest

Igboho’s Iru Ekun, Police IRT Free Kidnapped Mother, Two-Year-Old Son in Kwara Forest

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IBADAN – A combined team of operatives from the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Iru Ekun Security Network, a private security outfit led by Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has successfully rescued a woman and her two-year-old son who were abducted in Oyo State .

The victims, identified as Adijat Kubura Aliqlas (also known as Alhaja Kuburat Hamzat) and her son Abdulmalik, regained their freedom during a coordinated rescue operation in the Bode Sadu forest area near Jebba in Kwara State . The mother and child were abducted from Igbope, a community in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, which is a neighbouring community to Igboho, the hometown of the Yoruba Nation agitator .

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by Igboho’s media office and made available to journalists in Ibadan . According to the statement, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT), working alongside members of Igboho’s security outfit, engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle during the early hours of Saturday, leading to the successful rescue of the victims . The statement explained that the operation, which lasted about three days, was made possible through intelligence gathering, persistent tracking, and a strategy that involved luring the abductors with a ransom payment . It added that the kidnappers fled into the forest with gunshot wounds after the exchange of fire, abandoning their captives .

Igboho provided a detailed account of the operation, stating that his team members, together with ASP Amos Ajegoke and other police officers, had been in the forest for days tracking the movement of the hoodlums to ascertain their location . He explained that on July 2, they discovered the kidnappers were around Bode Sadu before Jebba, and they moved there, remaining in the area until Friday night . He recounted that around midnight, the kidnappers came to collect the ransom as agreed, at which point they launched an attack in the forest, leading to an exchange of gunfire . They pursued the suspects and combed the forest, causing the kidnappers to flee and abandon Adijat Kubura and Abdulmalik . Igboho added that they later heard the victims’ voices calling for help and traced them to where they had been abandoned . The victims were rescued and taken to Igboho General Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention .

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The statement attributed the success of the operation to the support of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (some reports also name the IGP as Tunji Disu), noting that the IGP coordinated with the Commissioners of Police in Kwara and Niger states throughout the operation . Reports also indicated the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the rescue efforts . The collaboration among security agencies contributed significantly to the success of the rescue mission after several days of tracking the suspects through the forests .

The rescue operation comes amid growing insecurity in the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State and parts of Kwara State. About 20 traditional rulers from Kwara South Senatorial District who fled their communities due to persistent bandit attacks have reportedly engaged the services of Igboho’s Iru Ekun security outfit to help flush out criminal elements and restore peace to affected areas . Igboho recently unveiled the Iru Ekun Security Network, a private security outfit established to support efforts to improve security in Yoruba communities . According to its promoters, Iru Ekun is a regional security force with 50,000 members ready to combat gunmen, kidnappers and bandits across the South-West . The emergence of Iru Ekun has sparked public discussions about regional security outfits and concerns over alleged ethnic profiling, with some Fulani residents expressing fear over what they described as the targeting of their communities .

Confirming the release, a statement issued on behalf of the family of late Alhaji Jimoh Olode described the development as a moment of immense gratitude and relief . The family appreciated security agencies and all individuals who contributed to securing the victims’ release, describing their efforts and dedication as commendable . It was further gathered that the victims’ family had earlier paid an initial ransom of ₦30 million before the rescue operation . The abductors had initially demanded ₦300 million before reportedly reducing the ransom to ₦150 million .

While the woman and her son have been rescued, an engineer who was reportedly abducted alongside them has yet to regain freedom . Recounting her ordeal after her release, the woman said she and her child were separated from the third victim on the day of the abduction and had no information about where the engineer was taken . Security operatives have reportedly launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects .

Igboho reiterated his commitment to protecting lives and property in Oke-Ogun and other parts of Oyo State, assuring residents that lawful efforts would continue to support peace and security . He also urged Nigerians to remain calm, support legitimate security operations and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic .

Igboho’s Iru Ekun, Police IRT Free Kidnapped Mother, Two-Year-Old Son in Kwara Forest