The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan.
The workers were reportedly abducted while inspecting crops on a farm within the institute’s premises.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, October 9, 2026.
Olayinka said the command had launched an intensive operation to secure the safe release of the victims and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
According to the police, tactical and operational teams have been deployed to locate the abducted workers, while a manhunt for the perpetrators is ongoing.
The command urged members of the public with credible information that could assist the operation to report to the nearest police station or contact the police through its established emergency channels.
It assured residents that all necessary measures were being taken to resolve the situation and ensure the safe return of the three CRIN staff members.
As of the time of filing this report, the police statement did not disclose the identities of the victims or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
