Members of Sunday Igboho’s Iru Esin vigilante group have arrested suspected kidnappers and bandits during an operation in Ibadan, Oyo State.
IBADAN, OYO STATE — Members of the Iru Esin Vigilante Group, linked to Sunday Igboho, have arrested several suspected kidnappers and bandits who were allegedly hiding in a bush in Ibadan, according to the group. The operation reportedly followed intelligence on the activities of the suspects in the area.
The vigilante group said its operatives tracked the suspects to their hideout before moving in to apprehend them. According to the group, the suspects opened fire when they noticed the vigilantes approaching, leading to a brief exchange before the operatives overpowered and arrested them.
A spokesperson for the group said no member of the vigilante team sustained serious injuries during the operation. The spokesperson added that the suspects would be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The latest arrests come amid growing concerns over kidnapping and violent crimes in parts of Oyo State and neighbouring communities. Community-based security groups have increasingly joined efforts to support conventional security agencies in tracking criminal elements and improving safety in rural and urban areas.
The development means local security operations may intensify across parts of Ibadan and surrounding communities as authorities seek to dismantle criminal networks. The arrests could also strengthen collaboration between community vigilante groups and formal security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and banditry in the South-West region.
