Five-year-old girl rescued unharmed in Ibadan after police tracked alleged kidnappers who demanded a ₦10 million ransom

The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a five-year-old girl, Fikayo Gbemiga, who was allegedly abducted from her home in Ibadan, and arrested two suspects accused of demanding a ₦10 million ransom for her release.

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The Oyo Police Rescue Kidnap Victim operation followed a coordinated investigation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, which deployed technology-driven intelligence and other investigative tools to trace the suspects’ movements before locating their hideout.

The Command’s spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan.

According to Ayanlade, the child was abducted on Saturday from her family’s residence at Iyana Offa in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects arrested in connection with the incident were identified as Seyi Adegboye and Adefemi Adegboye.

“The suspects were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, which deployed technological and other investigative tools to trace and identify them,” Ayanlade said.

“The sustained operation culminated in the arrest of the principal suspects on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. at their hideout in the Mojoyin Molade area of Iwo Road, Ibadan.”

He said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects unlawfully entered the complainant’s residence, abducted the five-year-old victim and later demanded ₦10 million from her family.

Acting on credible intelligence gathered during the investigation, police operatives stormed the hideout and rescued the child unharmed at about 10:35 p.m., just minutes after the suspects were apprehended.

The swift intervention, Ayanlade noted, prevented the suspects from relocating the victim or escaping.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly collected ₦1 million as part of the ransom payment in Gbongan, Osun State, before their arrest.

“The investigation established that the suspects had earlier received ₦1 million as ransom in Gbongan, Osun State, penultimate Wednesday,” the police spokesman added.

The suspects are currently assisting investigators, while police continue efforts to recover the money already collected and track down other members of the alleged kidnapping syndicate who remain at large.

Kidnapping for ransom has remained one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges, prompting security agencies to strengthen intelligence-led operations and deploy technology to improve response times and dismantle criminal networks.

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The latest rescue adds to a series of recent operations by law enforcement agencies targeting kidnapping syndicates across the country as authorities intensify efforts to curb violent crimes and improve public safety.