Bandits abduct Indian expatriate and kill police officer in Oyo farm attack
A violent bandit attack at an agricultural farm in Oyo State has left a police officer dead and a foreign national abducted, underscoring ongoing security challenges in parts of southwest Nigeria. The incident took place on January 16, 2026, at the Aqua Triton Company farm in Ogunmakin Village near Ibadan, when a group of armed assailants stormed the facility in what police described as a coordinated, commando-style operation. Around ten gunmen reportedly entered the farm while the expatriate, identified as 42-year-old Renjith Pillai, a company director, was inspecting crops. The attackers confronted security personnel stationed at the site, leading to a deadly encounter.
During the confrontation, Inspector Imoobe Prester, one of the Police Mobile Force officers on duty, engaged the assailants in an effort to protect the expatriate and repel the attack. The assailants, however, shot the inspector, who was later pronounced dead after being taken for medical treatment, and fled into nearby bushes with the abducted foreign national and one of the officer’s rifles. The police confirmed the loss of their colleague and appealed for calm as the search intensified.
In the aftermath, the Oyo State Police Command mobilised a joint security response, including anti-kidnapping units, tactical teams, local hunters and vigilantes, to comb the surrounding forested areas in a bid to locate the abductors, recover the expatriate and retrieve the stolen weapon. The commissioner of police has directed ongoing bush-combing and intelligence-led operations in the area, and authorities are urging members of the public to share any information that may aid in rescuing the victim and apprehending those responsible.
The attack has sparked concern among residents and local leaders about the increasing threat posed by armed groups to farms, businesses and rural facilities in Oyo State, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and community policing to protect civilians and deter similar incidents in the future.
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