Bandits kidnap Indian expatriate, gun down police officer in Oyo

Armed bandits have abducted an Indian expatriate and killed a police officer during an attack on an agricultural facility in Ogunmakin Village, Ibadan, Oyo State, police authorities have reportedly confirmed.

Security analyst Zagozola Makams reported that the incident occurred on Jan. 16 at about 1:00 p.m. at Aqua Triton Company, where the assailants reportedly stormed the farm in large numbers.

Sources said about ten armed bandits invaded the premises and carried out the operation while farm activities were ongoing.

“The bandits abducted 42-year-old Renjith Pillai, a company director, while he was inspecting crops,” the source said.

It was further disclosed that four officers from the Police Mobile Force (PMF) were deployed to secure the farm at the time of the attack. One of them, Insp. Imoobe Prester, confronted the attackers and exchanged gunfire with them in an attempt to stop the abduction.

“During the encounter, the bandits shot Insp. Imoobe and fled into the bush with his AK-47 rifle after abducting the expatriate. The officer was rushed for medical attention but later died,” the source added.

Following the incident, a combined security team drawn from the Idi-Ayure Police Division, PMF operatives, the command’s anti-kidnapping squad, other tactical units, as well as local hunters and vigilante groups, was mobilised to the area. The team began combing nearby bushes in search of the suspects and to recover the missing firearm.

According to the source, security operatives are relying on intelligence gathered from villagers and farm workers to trace the bandits. Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased officer have been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue on Ring Road, Ibadan, for preservation and autopsy.

Police said investigations are ongoing and appealed to the public to provide useful information that could assist in rescuing the abducted expatriate and bringing the attackers to justice.