The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the release of a kidnapped headmaster, Mathew Owoade, following sustained security operations that forced his abductors to abandon him.
Owoade, a 60-year-old farmer and headmaster, was abducted on Saturday along the Igbojaye–Budo Aare bush road in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, on behalf of the command, said the victim regained his freedom on Monday evening after an intensive joint security operation launched immediately after the abduction.
According to the police, relentless investigative efforts and coordinated pressure mounted by security operatives compelled the kidnappers to flee, leaving the victim behind.
“The intense operational pressure mounted on the abductors forced the hoodlums to abandon the victim, who regained his freedom on the evening of July 13, 2026,” the statement said.
The command disclosed that Owoade has been taken to a medical facility for evaluation and necessary treatment. It added that he would be debriefed by investigators after receiving medical attention as part of ongoing efforts to identify, apprehend and prosecute all those involved in the crime.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Olugbenga Abimbola, commended the joint efforts of security agencies, members of the local community and residents whose cooperation contributed to the victim’s safe recovery.
The police assured residents that investigations are ongoing and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tracking down the abductors and ensuring they face the full weight of the law.