60-year-old headmaster kidnapped in Oyo, gunmen demand N30m ransom

Gunmen have abducted 60-year-old headmaster Kolawole Mathew Owoade from his farm in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State and are demanding N30 million ransom, with police confirming the incident and search efforts ongoing.

Gunmen have allegedly kidnapped the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Kolawole Mathew Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, and are demanding N30 million for his release.

Investigations revealed that the incident occurred on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, between 5pm and 6pm, as the victim was returning from his farm at Budo Aare.

The Punch reported that the victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, said the kidnappers contacted the family using his father’s mobile phone shortly after the abduction, demanding the N30 million ransom.

He added that a search team recovered the victim’s abandoned motorcycle in the bush at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

The incident comes just days after over 40 schoolchildren and their teachers, abducted during a coordinated attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, on May 15, were rescued unharmed by joint security agencies on Friday, July 10 — 56 days after their abduction.

Abiola Owoade appealed to the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network (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.

When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident on Monday.

“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,” the police spokesperson said.