Gunmen seized 60-year-old Matthew Kolawole Owoade on Saturday evening while he returned from his farm in Budo Aare, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State. The abductors used the victim’s phone to contact his family. They demanded N30 million for his release. Police confirmed the incident and launched a rescue operation.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Oyo State chapter revealed the abduction in a statement signed by Chairman Hassan Ajibola Fatai and Secretary Salami Olukayode. The union described the incident as a stark reminder of the escalating security threats facing educators. Owoade, headmaster of Nomadic Basic School in Ogodu, Igbojaye, was intercepted between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. His motorcycle was later found abandoned in a bush near the farm.
Owoade’s son, Abiola, told reporters that his father had visited the farm to inspect crops before the attack. The kidnappers made their ransom demand within hours of the abduction. Family members and local residents have urged security agencies to act swiftly. They fear the kidnappers may move the victim deeper into the forest if the ransom is not paid quickly.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the abduction through spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade. He stated that tactical teams were deployed to rescue Owoade unhurt and arrest the perpetrators. No arrests have been made as of Monday evening. The police have not disclosed whether they are negotiating with the kidnappers or planning a raid on their hideout.
This abduction follows the recent rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren in Oyo State. Security forces freed 44 pupils and teachers from a forest hideout last week. The swift rescue operation had raised hopes that kidnapping incidents would decline. However, the latest attack suggests that criminal gangs remain active in rural areas. Farmers and educators in Itesiwaju Local Government have reported increased harassment by armed groups in recent months.
The N30 million ransom demand reflects a growing trend of targeting middle-class professionals. Kidnappers often assume that teachers, civil servants, and small business owners can raise large sums quickly. In Oyo State alone, at least 12 kidnapping cases involving educators have been recorded in the past year. The NUT has called for a dedicated security task force to protect schools and farmlands in vulnerable communities.
Local vigilante groups have expressed frustration with the slow police response. They claim that kidnappers operate with impunity because security forces lack adequate resources. A vigilante leader in Igbojaye told reporters that his team had spotted suspicious movements near Budo Aare days before the abduction. He alleged that the police ignored their warnings due to understaffing and logistical constraints.
The abduction has reignited debates about state policing in Nigeria. Proponents argue that local security structures would respond faster to rural crimes. Opponents warn that state police forces could be misused by politicians. The Oyo State House of Assembly recently passed a resolution urging the federal government to expedite security reforms. The resolution highlighted the need for better coordination between federal and state security agencies.
Owoade’s family has launched a public appeal for information. They have offered a N500,000 reward for any tip that leads to his rescue. The family has also urged the kidnappers to release Owoade on humanitarian grounds. They stated that raising N30 million within a short timeframe would be impossible. The community has rallied around the family, organizing prayer vigils and fundraising efforts.
