Two suspected kidnappers have been killed during a gun battle with operatives of the Ondo State Police Command along the Akure-Owo Expressway.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Ilu-Abo, where officers responded to a distress call about the activities of armed men at a block industry located beside Ilu-Abo High School.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, preliminary investigations revealed that about seven masked gunmen invaded the premises and demanded to see the owner of the block industry.
“Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, the police patrol team mobilised to the scene, where the suspects engaged operatives in a fierce exchange of gunfire,” Jimoh said.
He disclosed that two of the suspected kidnappers were killed during the confrontation, while other members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
“During the encounter, two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the bush with varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” he stated.
The police said several items were recovered from the scene, including a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, face masks and two ATM cards believed to belong to members of the gang or their victims.
“One locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two ATM cards believed to belong to the criminal syndicate or their victims were recovered during the operation,” the police spokesman added.
Jimoh said the bodies of the deceased suspects had been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital in Akure, while the case had been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
He added that security operatives had intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The command also appealed to residents, particularly healthcare providers, to promptly report anyone seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds or displaying unusual behaviour.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, the police urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support security operations across the state.
