Gunmen have abducted a community leader in Owo local government area of Ondo State, triggering an intensive search-and-rescue operation by security agencies.
The victim, Mr.Adeniyi Adelana, aged 60 and the Baale of Ode Oriya Village, was kidnapped by armed men who invaded his residence on Saturday night.
The abduction came on the heels of the alarm raised by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, over what it described as a growing influx of people suspected from the northern parts of the country into forests across the state, warning that the trend poses a potential security threat.
Confirming the abduction of the community leader, the Ondo State Police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said the incident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. when about six armed men stormed the community under the cover of darkness and forcefully whisked the traditional leader away through a nearby bush path.
The attackers were said to have operated swiftly, leaving residents in panic as they fled the scene with the victim to an unknown destination.
During the attack, the victim’s wife sustained a gunshot injury to her right hand after she was hit by the assailants while they carried out the operation.
She was immediately rescued and taken to a nearby medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and responding positively.
The police spokesperson revealed that the Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Owo, mobilised a combined team of police operatives and other security personnel to the scene.
According to him, the area was secured, and a preliminary investigation was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to trace the movement of the kidnappers.
He said “A comprehensive search-and-rescue operation was immediately activated, with security operatives combing nearby forests, bush paths and suspected escape routes in a determined effort to track the movement of the kidnappers, secure the victim’s safe release and bring the perpetrators to justice.
”Tactical deployments have also been strengthened across the area and adjoining communities to enhance operational effectiveness.”
The police command assured residents of its commitment to securing the release of the abducted community leader and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
On the influx of Northerners into Ondo forest, the Commander of the Corps, Adetunji Adeleye said security operatives recently intercepted groups of men and women moving into forest locations with household items, bedding, cooking utensils and other personal belongings, raising concerns about their intentions.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that some of the individuals claimed they were relocating from the North due to mounting security pressure in the region and had been invited into forest settlements in Ondo State by persons already residing there.
”We have observed a new trend where women of different ages travel into the forests carrying mortars, pestles, bedding and cooking utensils. Upon interrogation, they said they were fleeing security pressure in the North and were invited by some individuals to settle in the forests,” Adeleye said.
He disclosed that in one instance, a resident who claimed to have invited only two labourers later received 51 additional persons who moved into a forest area with their belongings, a development he described as suspicious.
The Amotekun commander also revealed that another group of 16 persons allegedly invited by a supposed farmer was intercepted while heading towards the Ose/Owo forest axis, an area that has witnessed security challenges in recent years.
On the fate of the suspects, he said those found not to be involved in criminal activities would be handed over to leaders of the Hausa/Fulani community and transported back to their states of origin after profiling, while those linked to criminal offences would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
