Oyo State in Southwest Nigeria is facing recent cases of kidnapping and banditry
A 60-year old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School in Igbojaye, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr. Matthew Owoade, has been kidnapped by armed bandits on Saturday evening while returning from his farm, with his abductors demanding a N30 million ransom for his release.
According to his son, Abiola Owoade, the attackers seized his father between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. before contacting the family through the victim’s mobile phone to demand the ransom.
A search party later recovered the headmaster’s abandoned motorcycle in a nearby bush at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over his safety.
The incident has thrown the family, colleagues, and the education community in Itesiwaju into distress, prompting appeals to the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to ensure his safe and unconditional rescue.
Residents have also urged members of the public to provide credible information that could help security operatives locate the victim and bring the kidnappers to justice.
Confirming the abduction, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said, “I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mr Owoade Mathew, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unhurt and arrest the perpetrator.”
