The Osun State Police Command has rescued a 50-year-old herdsman, Haruna Yusuf, after a fierce gun duel with suspected kidnappers, recovering ₦2.217 million believed to be ransom proceeds during the operation.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, disclosed the development on Wednesday, saying the successful operation also foiled a planned ransom exchange and dealt a major blow to kidnappers operating in parts of the state.

According to Gotan, Yusuf was abducted on July 9, 2026, by four armed men from a remote settlement near Wasinmi Village along the Gbongan-Ife-Ibadan Road.

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He said police operatives, working alongside local vigilantes, immediately launched a search operation before transferring the case to the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Anti-Kidnapping Section for intelligence-led investigation and tactical intervention.

The police commissioner explained that operatives monitored the ransom payment process on July 12 at a designated location in the Majeroku area along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway.

The operation turned into a gun duel after the kidnappers opened fire on the police team.

The officers returned fire, successfully rescuing the victim unharmed. One of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries and was arrested, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the surrounding forest.

“The injured suspect was immediately taken to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital for medical treatment and is currently responding to treatment.

The sum of Two Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (₦2,217,800), being proceeds of the ransom, was recovered at the scene.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping gang terrorising the area,” Gotan said.

Meanwhile, the police command also recorded another breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected members of the Alora secret cult over alleged involvement in violent activities around Iree in Boripe Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Michael Oluwatobi, 23, Busayo Joseph, 22, and Abu Azeez, 23, were arrested on July 14, 2026.

Gotan said a thorough investigation had been ordered to determine the extent of their involvement and identify other members of the alleged criminal network.