By our Reporter
Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have rescued a 61-year-old woman, Mrs. Modupe Oladele, who was abducted by armed hoodlums in Owo, following a gun battle with the suspects that also led to the recovery of her stolen vehicle.
The rescue operation, according to the police, followed a swift and coordinated response by officers attached to B Division, Owo.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, Police Public Relations Officer of the Command,
said the incident occurred at about 2:50 a.m. on June 23, when the Divisional Police Officer received a distress call that armed men had invaded Mrs. Oladele’s residence, abducted her at gunpoint and escaped with her Toyota Matrix vehicle bearing registration number WWW-434-AG.
Upon receiving the report, the DPO immediately mobilised operatives who launched a coordinated pursuit of the fleeing suspects.
The police team intercepted the kidnappers around the outskirts and bush area of Ojana Phase 3, where an exchange of gunfire ensued.
The command said the superior tactical response of the operatives forced the hoodlums to abandon the victim and flee into the surrounding bush, with some of them believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
The victim was rescued unhurt, while her stolen Toyota Matrix was successfully recovered.
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 had been intensified to apprehend the fleeing members of the criminal gang, adding that the case had been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those involved.
Commending the gallantry and swift response of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Ondo State.
He assured residents that no effort would be spared in tracking down the suspects and bringing them to justice.
The Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with timely and credible information on suspicious persons and activities, noting that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against crime.
