SUNTV Global Channel | January 17, 2026 | Ibadan
Armed bandits have launched a deadly attack on an agricultural farm in Oyo State, abducting an Indian national and killing a police officer in an incident that has heightened security concerns across the state.
The attack occurred at about 1:00pm on January 16, 2026, at Aqua Triton Company, a large-scale agricultural farm located in Ogunmakin community near Ibadan, according to security sources.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that about 10 heavily armed bandits stormed the farm while operations were ongoing. During the raid, the assailants abducted 42-year-old Renjith Pillai, an Indian expatriate and director of the company, who was reportedly inspecting crops at the time of the attack.
A source familiar with the incident said the farm was under the protection of four Police Mobile Force (PMF) officers when the gunmen struck.
In a brave attempt to repel the attackers and stop the kidnapping, Inspector Imoobe Prester reportedly confronted the bandits. A gun battle ensued, during which the officer was shot by the assailants.
“During the encounter, the bandits shot Insp. Imoobe and fled into the bush with his AK-47 rifle after abducting the expatriate,” the source said.
The injured officer was immediately rushed for medical treatment but later died from his injuries, throwing the police community and residents into mourning.
Following the attack, security authorities launched a massive manhunt for the kidnappers. A joint operation involving personnel from the Idi-Ayure Police Division, Police Mobile Force units, the anti-kidnapping squad, other tactical teams, local hunters, and vigilante groups has been deployed to comb nearby forests and escape routes.
Security sources said intelligence from villagers and farm workers is being leveraged to track the bandits and recover the stolen police rifle.
The remains of the slain officer have been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue on Ring Road, Ibadan, for autopsy and preservation.
Police authorities have appealed to members of the public to provide any information that could assist in rescuing the abducted expatriate and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing threat of armed banditry and kidnapping in rural communities across Oyo State.
Earlier, SUNTV Global Channel reported that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, raised concerns over the influx of bandits fleeing military operations in Nigeria’s North-West into the state.
Speaking at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held in Agodi, Ibadan, the governor attributed the movement of bandits to sustained military offensives in the North-West, forcing criminal elements to seek refuge in other regions.
Governor Makinde, however, vowed that his administration would track down and flush out the fleeing bandits, assuring residents that security agencies would not allow Oyo State to become a safe haven for criminal groups.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to follow developments on the rescue operation and broader security efforts in Oyo State.
