Gunmen have abducted the headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Kolawale Mathew Owoade, and are demanding a ransom of N30 million for his release.
The 60-year-old educator, popularly known as Onaiye, was reportedly kidnapped on Saturday evening between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. while returning home from his farm in Budo Aare.
Speaking on the incident, the victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, said the kidnappers contacted the family shortly after the abduction using his father’s mobile phone and demanded N30 million.
“The incident happened when my father was returning from his farm at Budo Aare within this local government area. Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the family using the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release,” he said.
He added that a search party later recovered the victim’s abandoned motorcycle in a bush on Sunday morning.
“At about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, a search team recovered his motorcycle abandoned in the bush,” Abiola said.
The incident comes just days after joint security operatives rescued more than 40 pupils and their teachers who were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area after spending 56 days in captivity.
Abiola appealed to the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), hunters, vigilantes and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue his father.
The abduction has also sparked concern among the victim’s colleagues and members of the education community in Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Oyo State Police Command said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend those behind the crime.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said:
“I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mathew Owoade, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unharmed and arrest the perpetrators.”
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