A 61-year-old woman abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ondo State has been rescued by police operatives following a gun battle that also led to the recovery of her stolen vehicle.
The victim, Mrs Modupe Oladele, was rescued during a coordinated operation by officers of the Ondo State Police Command after she was kidnapped from her residence in Owo, Owo Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident occurred in the early hours of June 23, 2026, when armed men invaded the woman’s home and forcefully took her away.
According to him, the attackers also fled with her Toyota Matrix vehicle bearing registration number WWW-434-AG.
“At about 2:50 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Owo, received a distress call that armed men had broken into Mrs. Oladele’s residence, abducted her at gunpoint and escaped with her Toyota Matrix,” Jimoh said.
He explained that the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised officers who launched a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing suspects.
“The operatives intercepted the hoodlums around the outskirts and bush area of Ojana Phase 3, where an exchange of gunfire followed. Overpowered by the superior tactical response of the police, the suspects abandoned the victim and the stolen vehicle before fleeing into the bush,” he added.
Jimoh disclosed that some of the fleeing suspects were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation.
He said police recovered two expended cartridges, a sandal suspected to belong to one of the fleeing suspects and a torchlight from the scene.
The police spokesperson noted that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the suspects, while the case had been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for further investigation.
Commending the operatives for their swift response, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information that could assist security agencies in combating crime.
