Gunmen have allegedly abducted a 60-year-old headmaster, Kolawale Mathew Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, and are demanding a ₦30 million ransom for his release.
Owoade, the headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, was reportedly kidnapped on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, while returning from his farm in Budo Aare.
According to his son, Abiola Owoade, the incident occurred between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. He disclosed that the abductors later contacted the family using his father’s mobile phone and demanded a ₦30 million ransom.
Abiola appealed to security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), hunters and local vigilante groups, to intensify efforts to rescue his father safely.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the command had commenced efforts to rescue the victim unhurt and bring those responsible for the abduction to justice.
The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Oyo State, where cases of kidnapping for ransom have continued to pose a threat to residents.