The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has reportedly arrested suspected kidnappers and recovered more than ₦4.2 million in cash and a firearm during an operation in the Ipapo area of Oyo State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m. in the Alaganran area of Oke Amu, near Ipapo.
According to an account attributed to the VGN, some of its operatives were on patrol when they intercepted three men travelling on a motorcycle.
One of the men, identified as Abubakar, was searched and allegedly found with ₦70,000 in cash.
While the operatives were questioning him about the source of the money, the other two men reportedly fled into the bush.
The VGN said its operatives subsequently traced the fleeing men to an alleged camp.
At the camp, a woman identified as Hawawu Abubakar, reportedly the wife of one of the men who escaped, was allegedly seen attempting to flee into the forest while carrying a bucket.
She was stopped and searched, after which the operatives reportedly discovered more than ₦4.2 million inside the bucket.
The VGN further claimed that a subsequent search of a residence linked to a man identified as Mohammed Sanni led to the recovery of a firearm.
The type of firearm was not specified in the account.
The arrested suspect was reportedly taken to the Ipapo Police Station, alongside the recovered firearm and motorcycle.
The suspects and recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Monitoring Unit in Iseyin for further investigation, according to the VGN account.
The circumstances surrounding the large amount of cash and the recovered firearm are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation.
However, there is no independent confirmation at the time of writing that the recovered money was proceeds of kidnapping or that those arrested are members of a kidnapping gang.
