Oyo Headmaster regains freedom after N5m ransom payment

Kolawole Owoade

THE 60-year-old abducted headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Mathew Kolawole Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, yesterday, regained his freedom after spending 48 hours in captivity.

The headmaster was released at about 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

The kidnappers had initially demanded a N30 million ransom.

However, it was gathered that following negotiations, the family succeeded in reducing the ransom demand to N3 million, which the abductors initially accepted.

After the family had raised the N3 million, the kidnappers allegedly increased the demand to N5 million.

The family was said to have paid the N5 million ransom before Mr Owoade was released near the Ajebamidele community.

The headmaster has reportedly reunited with his family.

Confirming the release, the Oyo State Police Command noted that the victim was kidnapped along the Igbojaye–Budo Aare bush road in Oyo State on 12 July 2026.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said following the immediate deployment of a coordinated joint security operation and sustained investigative efforts by the Command, the intense operational pressure mounted on the abductors forced the hoodlums to abandon the victim, who regained his freedom on the evening of 13 July 2026.

Olayinka said: “Upon completion of medical attention, he will be debriefed by investigators as part of the ongoing investigation aimed at identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting all those responsible for the criminal act.”