*Mr. Mathew Kolawole Owoade*
Headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Oyo State, Mr. Mathew Kolawole Owoade has regained his freedom after being held by gunmen for 48 hours.
The 60-year-old headmaster and farmer, popularly known as “Onaiye,” was ambushed between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, along the Igbojaye–Budo Aare bush road in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State while returning home from his farm.
The abductors used Mr. Owoade’s phone to contact his family, demanding a ₦30 million ransom.
He secured his freedom on the evening of Monday, July 13, 2026 following what the Oyo State Police Command described as a coordinated joint security operation on the bush paths which forced the criminals to abandon the victim.
The Oyo State Command
Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka disclosed that Mr. Owoade was immediately taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
Olayinka said after his medical clearance, Owoade will be debriefed by investigators to help security agencies identify, track, and prosecute the perpetrators.