The Ondo State Police Command has killed two suspected kidnappers during a gun battle along the Akure–Owo Expressway, foiling what authorities believe was a planned abduction at a block industry in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement that the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. at Olaiya Block Industry, near Ilu-Abo High School in Akure North Local Government Area.
According to the police, a patrol team from the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, responded to a distress call that about seven masked and heavily armed men had invaded the premises of the block industry, demanding to see the owner.
The police said the operatives engaged the suspects in a fierce exchange of gunfire on arrival, resulting in the death of two of the suspected kidnappers, while other members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene included a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two ATM cards believed to belong to members of the gang or their victims.
The bodies of the deceased suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, while the case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The police said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, urging healthcare providers and members of the public to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds or exhibiting suspicious movements.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and enhanced operational strategies.
The Command also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding the arrest of criminal elements operating in the state.
