Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have rescued a 61-year-old woman, Mrs. Modupe Oladele, who was abducted by armed men in Owo, following a gun battle that also led to the recovery of her stolen vehicle.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the rescue operation was carried out after a swift response by officers attached to B Division, Owo.
According to the statement, the Divisional Police Officer received a distress call at about 2:50 a.m. on June 23, reporting that armed hoodlums had broken into Mrs. Oladele’s residence, abducted her at gunpoint, and fled with her Toyota Matrix vehicle bearing registration number WWW-434-AG.
The police immediately mobilised operatives and launched a coordinated pursuit of the suspects. The fleeing gang was intercepted around the outskirts and bush area of Ojana Phase 3, where a fierce exchange of gunfire reportedly ensued.
The Command said the operatives overpowered the suspects, successfully rescued the victim unharmed, and recovered the stolen vehicle. The armed men, however, escaped into the surrounding bush, with the police believing that some of them sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter.
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 police said efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, adding that the case has been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for further investigation and prosecution.
Commending the operatives for their bravery and swift response, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and support the police by providing timely and credible information on suspicious persons and activities, stressing that public cooperation remains vital in the fight against crime.
