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Osun State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a Fulani herdsman, Yahaya Sulaiman, in Ijebu-Jesa, in Oriade local government area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that security operatives had commenced investigations into the matter.
Ojelabi disclosed that the victim appeared to have been specifically targeted by the abductors during the attack.
“Yahaya Sulaiman, a Fulani herder, is the victim. The incident was reported and police moved to the scene immediately. From all indications, he was targeted,” he said.
According to him, “the gunmen reportedly enquired about the victim’s whereabouts from a resident before carrying out the abduction.
“On arrival at the scene, they met a person whom they told that they were looking for the abducted person. They were specific.”
The police spokesperson stated that the command had launched a probe into the incident and appealed to members of the public to provide useful information that could aid the rescue operation.
“Although investigation is going on, the victim’s family are yet to report to the anti-kidnapping authorities, but the police are doing what they can pending when they will come,” he said.
A source in Ijebu-Jesa, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the incident occurred around 9 pm on Monday along the Iloko/Ijebu-Jesa Road.
A security source in the town stated that the abductors appeared to have prior knowledge of the victim and deliberately went after him.
The source explained that the gunmen first demanded information about Sulaiman’s whereabouts from a resident in the area before identifying and whisking him away to an unknown destination.
“The incident happened around 21:00 hours of 4th May, 2026, along Iloko/Ijebu Jesa Road in Oriade LG. The gunmen struck late in the evening and specifically asked for the whereabouts of Yahaya Sulaiman,” the source said.
“He is a big man among Fulani men in the area. He rears cattle. Ransom of N70 million has been placed on him by the abductors who contacted his family,” he added.
