By Omowumi Omotosho
An internal police report has uncovered a troubling incident involving three officers from the Oyo State Police Command, who allegedly abducted a traveler and extorted him along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.
The event reportedly took place around 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025, near the Ikire area in Osun State. Acting on intelligence that a group of travelers had been forcefully taken into the Akinrere forest off the highway, a rapid response team led by Divisional Police Officer CSP Bamidele Olatona raced to the scene.
To their shock, the detectives apprehended three uniformed officers—Inspector Awo Augustine (AP/No.209309), Inspector Ola Benjamin (AP/No.355412), and Corporal Olatoye Olawale (F/No. 508953)—all from the Oyo State Command. A civilian, later identified as Adeoye Adebayo, was discovered with them and turned out to be the victim of the extortion.
“At about 1100hrs upon information received that some travellers have been kidnapped and taken to Akinrere bush along Ife/Ibadan express way Ikire, immediately the team of detectives include operative mine led by DPO mine Mr. Bamidele Olatona CSP swift to action where three policemen named AP/No.209309 Inspr. Awo Augustine, AP/No.355412 Inspr. Ola Benjamin and F/No. 508953 Cpl. Olatoye Olawale serving at Oyo State Command were arrested with one Adeoye Adebayo and brought to the station,” the police signal read.
Adebayo later recounted his traumatic experience during questioning. He explained that he was traveling in a commercial bus from Abeokuta to Akure when the officers stopped the vehicle at the Asejire axis. Without explanation, they forcibly removed him, placed him in their patrol vehicle, and drove into a secluded forest area. There, they allegedly threatened and intimidated him into handing over ₦70,000 in cash before allowing him to go.
“During interrogation, the victim named Adeoye Adebayo said that he boarded a commercial vehicle from Abeokuta to Akure. Getting to Asejire area, Ibadan, a team of policemen stopped their vehicle and ordered him to come down and entered their patrol car and drove him into the bush where they forcefully obtained the sum of seventy thousand naira only (#70,000) from him. Meanwhile, the cash exhibit has been recovered from the policemen. Case will be transferred to Osogbo for further investigation, please,” the signal further read.
The stolen money has since been recovered from the officers, and the case is now being transferred to Osogbo for further investigation.
