A group of six armed men has abducted four cocoa farmers at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria situated in the Idi-Ayunre region of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Reports from the News Agency of Nigeria reveal that the victims were at the institute for a familiarization visit on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
One cocoa farmer who managed to escape narrated that the gunmen emerged from nearby bushes and blocked their vehicle while they were heading to the Nursing Section of the institute.
The Oyo State Police Command spokesman, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the occurrence to NAN on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Olayinka reported that one of the abducted farmers had been rescued successfully and their vehicle was recovered during the operation.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Haruna, has ordered the Anti- Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams to support the Divisional Police Officer assigned to Idi-Ayunre.
According to the PPRO, police operatives have initiated a thorough search operation in the surrounding bush area, and the rescued farmer is currently in safe custody, undergoing debriefing.
"Measures are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the suspects involved in this incident," he added.
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