VAM News Update

Police force begin search for the kidnapped female traditional chief, Mrs. Grace Adepoju (Iyalode of Oyan land) and five others at Aworo, a community bordering Osun and Kwara States.

Spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, SP Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, said one of the victims, Mrs Adepoju, has been rescued while two persons suspected to be informants to the kidnappers were arrested.

“The Osun State Police Command is using this medium to inform the general public that, the Command is aware of the news trending on social media that, ‘gunmen kidnapped six farmers in Osun community’ and wishes to set the record straight that, the incident happened at Aworo village near Agbamu town in Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State,” the statement read.

“On the 21st August, 2023, one Mrs. Grace Adepoju from Oyan Town in Odo-Otin L.G. area of Osun State, her surveyor and four others went to Agbamu, a community in Irepodun L.G. area of Kwara State for commercial transaction and while returning from the said town at about 6:30pm, they were attacked and kidnapped at Aworo town in Kwara State, which happens to share borders with Osun State.

“The Divisional Police Officer Okuku, Osun State was contacted; he quickly mobilized his men along with local Hunters, and Vigilante and later joined the Osun State Anti-Kidnapping squad that evening to pursue the kidnappers since the area was a few kilometres from his Division.

“As a result of pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the team, they were disorganized which led to the escape of Mrs Grace Adepoju unhurt at about 3:00 am of 22nd August, 2023 and since reunited with her family, while assisting in the rescue of other victims.

“The team while combing the forest arrested two other persons suspected to be informants to the kidnappers who are presently in custody of the police team from Kwara State.”