Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have foiled a fresh kidnap attempt along the notorious Akure-Owo Expressway after engaging suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun battle that left two of the assailants dead and several others fleeing with gunshot wounds.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday, prevented the abduction of the owner of a block industry in Ilu-Abo, a community situated along the Akure-Owo highway that has experienced persistent security challenges in recent years.
According to the police, about seven armed men invaded the premises of Olaiya Block Industry, located beside Ilu-Abo High School, at approximately 3:30 a.m., demanding to see the business owner before security operatives responded to a distress call.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said officers attached to the Federal Highway Patrol Unit at Ilu-Abo swiftly mobilised to the scene following credible intelligence.
“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 stated.
He disclosed that two of the suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded during the exchange, while five others escaped into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot injuries.
The police also recovered a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards believed to belong either to members of the gang or to previous victims.
According to the command, the bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital in Akure, while the case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The police appealed to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers across the state to promptly report any individual presenting with suspicious gunshot wounds, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious movements or persons seeking treatment for firearm-related injuries.
The latest operation underscores the continuing security challenges along the Akure-Owo Expressway, a corridor that has become notorious for kidnappings targeting commuters, farmers and business owners.
Over the past few years, the highway and its adjoining communities have witnessed a series of abductions, prompting sustained security operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, and other security agencies.
Security authorities have also intensified intelligence-driven operations across the state as criminal gangs increasingly relocate their activities to forests and communities bordering major highways.
Reaffirming the command’s determination to combat violent crime, Jimoh said the police would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing and enhanced operational strategies to dismantle kidnapping syndicates operating across Ondo State.
“We remain committed to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and enhanced operational strategies,” he said.
The command also commended residents for providing timely and credible information that has aided ongoing security operations, urging them to sustain their cooperation as investigations continue.
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