Ondo Police Rescue Abducted Woman, Recover Stolen Vehicle

The Ondo State Police Command has rescued a 61-year-old woman, Mrs. Modupe Oladele, who was abducted by armed men in Owo, following a gun battle between security operatives and the fleeing suspects.

The police also recovered the victim’s stolen Toyota Matrix vehicle during the operation, while the kidnappers escaped into a nearby bush with suspected gunshot wounds.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of June 23, 2026, when armed hoodlums stormed the residence of Mrs. Oladele in Owo, forcibly gained entry and whisked her away at gunpoint.

The attackers also fled with her Toyota Matrix, bearing registration number WWW-434-AG.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of B Division, Owo, received a distress call at about 2:50 a.m. and immediately mobilised operatives to trail the kidnappers.

The rescue team tracked the suspects to the outskirts of Ojana Phase 3, where they engaged them in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

According to the command, the superior tactical response of the operatives forced the suspects to abandon the victim and the stolen vehicle before fleeing into the surrounding bush.

“The operatives successfully rescued the victim and recovered the stolen vehicle. The suspects fled into the surrounding bush, with some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire,” the statement said.

Police said items recovered from the scene included two expended cartridges, a sandal believed to have been abandoned by one of the fleeing suspects and a torchlight.

The command said efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing members of the gang.

It added that the case had been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for a thorough investigation aimed at identifying and prosecuting everyone connected with the crime.

Commending the operatives involved in the rescue mission, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, praised their bravery and prompt response.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, assuring residents that those behind the attack would be brought to justice.

The police also appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information capable of assisting security agencies in combating crime.

According to the command, public cooperation remains essential to sustaining the fight against criminality across the state.