Ransom Mission Turns Bloody: Amotekun Officer Beheaded in Oyo Forest
What began as a desperate attempt to save his younger brother has ended in tragedy in Oyo State, where an operative of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, was reportedly beheaded by kidnappers while delivering ransom.
The victim has been identified as Robert Olorode, a member of the Amotekun Corps.
The incident occurred in Kajola Local Government Area of the state.
According to community sources, the tragedy started on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, when armed men abducted one Elijah Okeleye, a resident of Afija’s Compound, Ilaji-Oke. Okeleye was reportedly kidnapped while returning from his farm in the Saaji-daada axis of Kajola LGA.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers established contact with the family and initially demanded N15 million for his release.
The demand triggered days of negotiation, as the family struggled to raise the huge sum. After prolonged talks, the abductors reportedly agreed to reduce the ransom to N500,000.
Olorode, who was the elder brother of the kidnapped victim, volunteered to deliver the money to the kidnappers in the hope of securing his brother’s freedom.
But the ransom delivery turned deadly.
Sources in the community disclosed that upon arriving at the agreed meeting point near the kidnappers’ hideout, Olorode was overpowered by the armed men. He was then reportedly beheaded.
The killing has thrown Ilaji-Oke and surrounding communities into mourning and panic, with residents expressing fresh fears over the activities of armed groups targeting farmers and rural settlements.
Confirming the incident, the traditional ruler of Ilaji-Oke, the Bajigan, Oba Jeremiah Oyeboade Oladosu, said Olorode was indeed an active member of the Amotekun Corps.
The monarch clarified, however, that Olorode did not go to deliver the ransom as part of any official Amotekun operation, but in his personal capacity as a brother trying to rescue his sibling.
“Yes, the incident happened. Robert Olorode is an Amotekun member, but he went there on his own to rescue his brother, not on official assignment,” the monarch told journalists.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the abducted Elijah Okeleye and to track down those responsible for the abduction and killing.
Local security formations, including Amotekun and police operatives, have reportedly intensified search operations in the area as investigations continue.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the grave risks families face when engaging directly with kidnappers, especially in rural communities where security presence remains limited.
For the Okeleye family, what was meant to be a rescue mission for one son has now resulted in the brutal loss of another.
Residents are now calling on the Oyo State Government and security agencies to urgently strengthen security around farming communities in Kajola and bring the perpetrators to justice.
