The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Idi-Ayunre and debunked reports circulating on social media of a mass abduction within Ibadan and surrounding communities.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the abduction of the Cocoa Institute staff occurred on Monday, 19th May, 2026, at about 6:00 p.m., when armed men reportedly invaded the premises of CRIN at Idi-Ayunre and abducted them to an unknown destination.
The statement disclosed that the distress report was lodged at the Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters by the institution’s Chief Security Officer, prompting an immediate response from Police operatives who visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that approximately six armed men carried out the operation before fleeing into nearby forested areas with the victims.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbemiga, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible.
The Command stated that intensive bush-combing and coordinated search operations were subsequently launched across surrounding locations linked to the incident.
During one of the operations on Tuesday, 20th May, 2026, at about 8:10 a.m., Police operatives intercepted two suspicious persons identified as Shehu and Abubakar. Preliminary interrogation reportedly led the suspects to volunteer information about the hideout of other members of the kidnapping syndicate.
However, while approaching the suspected location, the team came under gunfire attack from armed men believed to be members of the k!dnapping syndicate. The operatives responded professionally, repelled the attack and successfully extracted the two suspects, who are currently in custody of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation and intelligence exploitation.
The command dismissed reports of another mass abduction in Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan. It said no such incident has been reported anywhere within Ibadan metropolis or its environs apart from the already reported CRIN incident presently receiving robust operational attention.