Suspected armed men have abducted Mr. Kolawale Mathew Owoade, the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, located in the Budo Aare area of Oyo State. The assailants have contacted the victim`s family, demanding a sum of N30 million for his safe release.

The kidnapping occurred on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.. According to local reports, the incident took place while the headmaster, popularly known by the alias "Onaiye," was returning from his farm in the Budo Aare axis of Itesiwaju Local Government Area.

Following the abduction, the kidnappers seized the victim`s mobile phone and used it to reach out to his relatives. They explicitly stated the N30 million ransom demand as a strict condition for letting him return to his family.

The incident was compounded by the discovery of the victim`s personal effects the following morning. At about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, a local search party combing the surrounding bushes successfully recovered Mr. Owoade`s abandoned motorcycle.

This latest abduction is sparking fresh anxiety across the state, particularly within the local education sector. The timing has deeply unnerved residents, coming right on the heels of the recent rescue of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers who were kidnapped in mid-May and held for 56 days before being rescued by joint security agencies.

In response to the abduction, the victim`s son, Mr. Abiola Owoade, has made a passionate plea for immediate government and security intervention. He is calling on the military, police, DSS, Amotekun, and local vigilante groups to launch a coordinated search and rescue operation to save his father.

Members of the education community and the victim`s colleagues have expressed intense sadness and solidarity with the family. Many are worried about the safety of teachers and school administrators operating in rural and agrarian communities across the council area.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has officially confirmed the unfortunate development. The Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, noted that tactical teams and operatives have already been deployed to the area to track down the suspects and ensure the victim is rescued unharmed.