2-Year-Old Toddler Among Victims Rescued Alive as Security Forces Storm Oyo Kidnappers’ Forest Den; Full List of Freed Hostages Released

The harrowing ordeal for five travelers snatched by armed bandits in Oyo State has come to a dramatic end, thanks to a high-powered “technical rescue” executed by a joint team of police operatives and local hunters. The state command officially confirmed the total liberation of all hostages on Tuesday night, revealing that the casualties included a two-year-old girl who had been held in the forest trenches for over 48 hours.

The rescue operation turned into a high-stakes tactical showdown when security forces locked onto the gang’s hidden camp using active digital tracking. As the assault team breached the perimeter, the kidnappers opened fire, attempting to use the thick canopy as a security shield. However, the superior firepower of the police forced the syndicate to scatter into the deep bush, leaving their victims behind.

Among those carried out of the woods was little Dunmisola Adebayo, who was abducted alongside her mother, Abosede, while returning from a weekend trip. The sight of the toddler being carried to safety by a police officer provided an emotional sigh of relief for the rescue team. The full list of freed individuals also includes the commercial driver, Ibrahim Lawal, a prominent medical professional, Dr. Chidi Nwachukwu, and an agribusiness merchant, Alhaji Bello Umar.

All five survivors have been transferred to a specialized medical facility in Ibadan to undergo comprehensive health checks and trauma counseling. Doctors confirmed that while the adults are suffering from exhaustion and minor injuries sustained during the forced trek through the rough terrain, the two-year-old girl is in stable condition and has been reunited with anxious extended family members.

With the 2027 transition cycle drawing closer, the Oyo State Government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for highway criminality. The police command has deployed additional motorized patrol manuals and activated a round-the-clock monitoring portal across all state entry points. For the residents of Oyo, this swift and successful operation stands as a massive value-addition to the ongoing efforts to keep the state’s transport networks safe from the reach of criminal syndicates.