Police R£scue Pastor, Mother, Two Children from K!dnappers

Police Rescue Pastor, Mother, Two Children from Kidnappers

Residents of Owo, Ondo State, were thrown into fear and panic on Sunday night as suspected kidnappers launched two separate attacks on families, leaving one man wounded and several others traumatised before security operatives successfully rescued all victims.

The incidents, which occurred within hours of each other, highlighted the growing threat posed by criminal gangs but also showcased the swift intervention of security agencies that prevented what could have become tragic abductions.

The first attack occurred around 7:05 p.m. when six armed men reportedly invaded the residence of Pastor Taiwo Taiwo, Chairman of Ojana New Area in Owo. According to the Ondo State Police Command, the gunmen had arrived with the intention of abducting the community leader.

The peaceful evening quickly turned chaotic as family members found themselves at the mercy of armed attackers. However, a distress call to the police triggered an immediate response. The Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Owo, led a patrol team to the scene, where officers engaged the suspects in a gun battle.

Faced with resistance from security operatives, the kidnappers reportedly fled into nearby bushes, abandoning their mission. Pastor Taiwo and members of his family were rescued unharmed and later moved to a safer location.

Barely four hours later, another family became victims of a similar attack.

At about 11:10 p.m., gunmen stormed the residence of 39-year-old Daniel Ologun in Gbegun Community, along Alhaja Camp, off the Housing Estate area of Owo. During the attack, Mr Ologun was shot in the left leg as he reportedly tried to protect his family.

The assailants then forcefully whisked away his wife, Mrs Taibat Ologun, 34, along with their two young children, aged four and two, into the bush.

For the family, what began as an ordinary night suddenly turned into a terrifying ordeal.

Police operatives, upon receiving information about the incident, launched an immediate rescue operation. Security pressure mounted on the kidnappers as police officers, working alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army, combed the surrounding forests and escape routes.

The operation paid off in the early hours of Monday when Mrs Ologun and her two children were found and rescued unharmed at about 1:50 a.m. The kidnappers reportedly abandoned their captives and escaped into the bush, some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the operation.

Meanwhile, Mr Ologun was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where he is currently receiving treatment and is said to be responding positively.

Reacting to the incidents, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, praised the bravery of the officers involved and ordered intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.

He also directed investigators to debrief the rescued victims to obtain information that could aid the ongoing manhunt and help dismantle criminal networks operating in the area.

Joint teams of police and military personnel have since intensified bush-combing operations across Owo and neighbouring forests in search of the attackers.

While calm has gradually returned to the affected communities, the incidents have left many residents shaken, underscoring the emotional toll kidnapping attempts continue to inflict on families across the state.

The Ondo State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.