Security Forces Launch Intensive Bush Combing Operation After Gunmen Abduct Four Personnel at Ibadan Research Institute

Gunmen abducted four people at CRIN Ibadan on Wednesday. Police have rescued one victim and launched a tactical operation to save the remaining three.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 9:50 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Daylight Abduction Disrupts Agricultural Research Hub in Oyo State

The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, located in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, became the site of a violent security breach on Wednesday morning. According to reports from the scene, unidentified gunmen infiltrated the nursery section of the facility, a specialized area dedicated to plant cultivation, and forcibly took four individuals. The bold nature of the attack within a federal research institution has raised immediate concerns regarding the vulnerability of academic and scientific outposts situated on the outskirts of major urban centers like Ibadan.

Police Confirm Partial Rescue and Vehicle Recovery

The Oyo State Police Command has officially acknowledged the incident, providing updates on the status of the abducted parties. Olayinka Ayanlade, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, stated that a rapid response by law enforcement led to the successful rescue of one of the four victims shortly after the abduction. In addition to securing the individual, officers managed to recover the victim’s vehicle, which had been abandoned during the chaos of the initial assault. The rescued party is currently being held in safe custody, where they are undergoing a debriefing process to assist investigators in identifying the perpetrators.

Tactical Units Deploy for Massive Rural Search Operation

In direct response to the crisis, the Commissioner of Police has authorized a large-scale deployment of specialized assets to the Idi-Ayunre Division. Ayanlade confirmed that the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and several other tactical teams have been integrated into an intensive bush combing operation. This maneuver is designed to flush out the kidnappers from the dense vegetation surrounding the research institute, where they are believed to be holding the remaining three victims. The police emphasized that this is a multi-layered effort involving both divisional officers and high-level operatives trained in rural combat and rescue missions.