By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Kolawale Mathew Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, by suspected gunmen.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident on Monday, July 13.
“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,” Ayanlade said.
The victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, revealed that the incident occurred on Saturday, July 11, between 5 pm and 6 pm, when the victim was returning from his farm at Budo Aare, adding that a search team recovered his motorcycle abandoned in the bush on Sunday morning.
Owoade also said the kidnappers contacted the family shortly after the incident and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.
“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.
“However, at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, a search team recovered his motorcycle abandoned in the bush,” he said.
Owoade also called on the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, hunters, vigilantes, and other security agencies to intervene and rescue his father.
The victim’s colleagues and members of the education community in the local government also expressed sadness over the incident.
The headmaster’s alleged kidnapping comes a day after over 40 schoolchildren and their teachers, who were abducted during a coordinated attack on three schools in Oriire LGA of the state on Friday, May 15, were rescued by joint security agencies on Friday, July 10, 56 days after their abduction.
