Gunmen Kidnap Oyo Headmaster, Demand N30 Million Ransom

On July 11, 2026, Kolawal Mathew Owoad, a 60-year-old headmaster of a nomadic basic school in Budo Aar, Itesiwaju Local Government Area, Oyo State, was kidnapped by gunmen who demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release. The incident occurred between 5 PM and 6 PM as Owoad was returning from his farm.

His son, Abiola Owoad, reported that the kidnappers contacted the family using the victim's mobile phone to make the ransom demand. On July 12, 2026, a search team recovered an abandoned motorcycle in a bush area, indicating the kidnappers' escape route.

This incident follows a series of abductions in the region, including the kidnapping of 40 schoolchildren and teachers during an attack on Baptist Nursery Primary School and other institutions on May 15, 2026. The Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) are involved in the ongoing efforts to rescue Owoad unharmed and arrest the perpetrators.