Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan says suspects linked to kidnapping, cultism and other crimes will face prosecution after statewide operations

The Osun State Police Command has announced the arrest of 13 suspects linked to alleged kidnapping, cultism, ritual-related offences, stealing, hooliganism and unlawful possession of substances suspected to be cannabis, following a series of coordinated operations across the state that also led to the rescue of an abducted herder and the recovery of N2.217 million in suspected ransom proceeds.

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The Osun Police Arrest 13 Suspects operation was disclosed on Wednesday by the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he said all the suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

According to Gotan, those arrested include two suspected kidnappers, three suspected cultists under investigation for alleged ritual-related activities, and eight other suspects apprehended during raids on identified criminal hideouts across the state.

One of the operation’s major breakthroughs was the rescue of Haruna Yusuf, a 50-year-old Fulani herder who was abducted on July 9 from a settlement near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road.

The police commissioner said operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit monitored the ransom payment process before launching an operation at the designated collection point in Majeroku along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway on July 12.

“The team successfully rescued the victim unhurt,” Gotan said.

“The kidnappers, on sighting the operatives, opened fire, and the police equally responded professionally, leading to a gun duel during which some of the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and one was arrested, while others fled.”

He added that officers recovered N2,217,800, believed to be proceeds from the ransom payment, while efforts are continuing to apprehend other members of the gang who escaped during the exchange of gunfire.

In a separate development, Gotan disclosed that another suspected kidnapper, Buhari Mutari, was arrested in Seyin, Oyo State, through technical intelligence following investigations into a failed kidnap attempt on Yahaya Sulaimon at Ijebu-Jesa on May 7, 2026.

The commissioner also announced the arrest of three suspected cultists in Iree after intelligence reports linked them to activities that had unsettled residents of the community.

The suspects, identified as Michael Oluwatobi, 23; Busayo Joseph, 22; and Abu Azeez, 23, are also being investigated for alleged ritual-related offences.

According to Gotan, officers recovered a small coffin, locally made charms and soaps during the operation.

“I have directed that a thorough and discreet investigation be conducted to establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other members of the criminal network,” he said.

The police commissioner further revealed that eight additional suspects were arrested during raids on identified black spots across Osun State over offences including stealing, hooliganism and unlawful possession of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

The suspects were identified as David Ayomide, Akanbi Adijat, Kareem Afeez, Ajewale Abidemi, Oladipupo Temitope, Adeleke Chalse, Chibueze David and Abayomi Sunday.

Gotan reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling violent crime across the state, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and ritual-related offences, assuring residents that those arrested would be charged to court after investigations.

The latest operations form part of intensified security efforts by the Osun State Police Command to dismantle criminal networks through intelligence-led policing, surveillance and coordinated raids on locations identified as crime hotspots.

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The development comes amid heightened security operations across several states, with police commands increasing efforts to combat kidnapping, cultism, gunrunning and other violent crimes through proactive enforcement and inter-state intelligence sharing.