Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have killed two suspected kidnappers during a gun battle, thwarting a planned abduction at a block industry located along the Akure-Owo Expressway.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the operation followed a distress call received at about 3:30 a.m.
According to the police, about seven masked gunmen invaded Olaiya Block Industry, situated beside Ilu-Abo High School in Ilu-Abo, and demanded to see the owner of the business.
Officers attached to the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, immediately responded to the distress call. On sighting the operatives, the armed suspects reportedly opened fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.
During the encounter, two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while other members of the gang fled into a nearby bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
The police recovered a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two ATM cards believed to belong to the suspects or their victims.
DSP Jimoh said the bodies of the deceased suspects had 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 (SCID) for further investigation.
He added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and urged residents, particularly healthcare workers, to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds or displaying suspicious behaviour to the nearest police station.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-driven policing.