The Oyo State Police Command has initiated a coordinated rescue operation following the abduction of two employees of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). Authorities have also refuted claims of another mass kidnapping in parts of Ibadan, labeling such reports as false and misleading.
Incident Details
The incident was reported on May 19, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m. by the Chief Security Officer of CRIN to the Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters. According to police accounts, unidentified armed men invaded the institute's premises and forcibly took the two workers to an unknown location.
Police Response
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, operatives promptly visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. Preliminary investigations revealed that about six gunmen carried out the attack before fleeing into nearby forest areas with the victims.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence units, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted workers and the arrest of those responsible.
Search Operations
Intensive bush-combing and coordinated search operations commenced across surrounding forest locations linked to the incident. During an operation on May 20 at about 8:10 a.m., police operatives intercepted two suspects identified as Shehu and Abubakar. The suspects volunteered to lead security operatives to the hideout of other gang members, but the team came under gunfire while approaching the location.
“The operatives responded professionally, repelled the attack and successfully extracted the two suspects, who are currently in custody of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation and intelligence exploitation,” the statement added.
False Reports Dismissed
The command expressed concern over false and sensational reports circulating on social media and some media platforms alleging another mass abduction in the Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan. The police clarified that no such incident had been reported anywhere within the Ibadan metropolis apart from the CRIN abduction case already under investigation.
The command warned that dissemination of unverified reports could create unnecessary panic, undermine ongoing security operations and divert emergency response resources from genuine threats. It urged journalists, bloggers and social media users to verify security-related information through appropriate channels before publication.
Public Reassurance
The police assured residents that robust security measures have been put in place across affected areas and other strategic locations in the state to deny criminal elements operational space. Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding while supporting security agencies with credible information that could aid ongoing operations.
