The Ondo State Police Command has rescued a 61-year-old abducted woman and recovered her stolen vehicle following a gun battle with suspected kidnappers in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
The victim, Mrs. Modupe Oladele, was rescued during a swift police operation after she was abducted from her residence by armed hoodlums in the early hours of June 23, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of B Division, Owo, received a distress call at about 2:50 a.m. reporting that armed men had broken into the victim’s residence, abducted her at gunpoint, and fled with her Toyota Matrix vehicle bearing registration number WWW-434-AG.
Acting promptly on the report, the DPO mobilised operatives who launched a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing suspects.
The police team intercepted the hoodlums around the outskirts and bush area of Ojana Phase 3, where a fierce exchange of gunfire ensued.
The Command said the superior tactical response of the operatives forced the suspects to abandon the victim and the stolen vehicle before fleeing into the surrounding bush. Some of the fleeing suspects were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
Police recovered the victim’s Toyota Matrix as well as two expended cartridges, a sandal believed to have been abandoned by one of the suspects, and a torchlight from the scene.
The rescued woman was safely recovered, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing members of the criminal gang.
The case has been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those involved in the crime.
Commending the gallantry and swift response of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Ondo State.
He assured residents that every effort would be made to bring the perpetrators to justice and urged members of the public to remain vigilant by providing timely and credible information on suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police formation.
The Command emphasized that public cooperation remains vital to ongoing efforts to combat crime and enhance security across the state.
