The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) along the Idi Ayunre axis of Ijebu Ode Road in Oluyole Local Government Area.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday while travelling to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. According to eyewitnesses, the armed men ambushed the travellers in a commando-style operation, firing several gunshots to scare motorists and passersby before taking the victims to an unknown destination.
Police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed that security operatives immediately launched coordinated bush-combing operations across nearby forests and arrested two suspects identified as Shehu and Abubakar in connection with the incident.
Olayinka also dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging another mass abduction in Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan, describing the reports as false and capable of creating panic among residents.
The latest abduction comes amid growing insecurity in Oyo State and follows the recent kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
Makinde Signs New Security Executive Order
In response to rising security threats, Governor Seyi Makinde signed Executive Order 001 of 2026 regulating associations, groups and organisations providing security and allied services across the state.
Makinde said the directive became necessary to ensure that vigilante and community-based security groups operate within a legal framework that supports peace, order and the rule of law.
According to the governor, all security-related associations with more than five members must register with the state government through the Office of the Special Adviser on Security.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, explained that affected groups must comply within 72 hours of the signing of the order or face sanctions.
Makinde warned against ethnic profiling and unlawful activities under the guise of providing security, stressing that the government would not tolerate criminality from any group.
The governor also assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe return of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire, adding that security coordination across the state would be strengthened.
Bishop Condemns Abductions as Barbaric
The Archbishop of Ibadan Province (Anglican Communion), Dr Williams Aladekugbe, described the abductions and killings linked to the attacks as “ungodly, immoral, criminal and barbaric.”
The cleric sympathised with families of the victims and called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the safe release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
Aladekugbe also criticised attempts to politicise or introduce religious sentiments into the security crisis, warning politicians against exploiting the situation for political gains.
He further urged authorities to profile foreigners residing in the state to identify individuals with questionable intentions and ensure criminals face the full weight of the law.
OPC Calls for Permission to Confront Bandits
The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) appealed to the government to empower self-determination groups to tackle insecurity and confront terrorists allegedly threatening communities across Yorubaland.
In a statement issued by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, the organisation condemned the kidnapping and killing of pupils and teachers in Oyo and other parts of the South-West.
The OPC warned that continued attacks on schools, farmers and travellers could no longer be tolerated, insisting that Yoruba communities were under increasing threat from armed bandits and criminal groups.
Olawepo-Hashim Demands Urgent National Response
Former presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, also condemned the abductions in Oyo and Borno states, describing the attacks on schoolchildren as “a brutal assault on Nigeria’s future.”
He said the targeting of schools represents a dangerous escalation in insecurity and urged the Federal Government to prioritise the safe rescue of all abducted children.
Olawepo-Hashim warned that Nigeria’s persistent security challenges expose weaknesses in rural policing and governance, stressing that the country cannot build a stable future under fear and violence.