According to reports, on Saturday, a group of gunmen broke into the Ode Oriya community in Ondo State's Owo Local Government Area and kidnapped Adeniyi Adelana, the town's traditional leader.

According to a source, the thugs broke into the community at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, went to the 60-year-old community leader's house, and drove him off to an unidentified location in the jungle.

The state command has started a rescue mission in the forest, according to Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abayomi Jimoh, who verified the incidence over the phone with our correspondent on Sunday.

“The Ondo State Police Command has launched a coordinated rescue operation following the abduction of a community leader by suspected kidnappers in Ode Oriya Village, Owo Local Government Area of the state.

“Preliminary reports indicate that at about 8:05 pm on the reported date, a group of approximately six armed men stormed the residence of Mr Adeniyi Adelana, aged 60, the Baale of Ode Oriya Village. The assailants reportedly invaded the premises under the cover of darkness and forcefully whisked the victim away through a nearby bush path to an unknown destination.

“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, B Division, Owo, immediately mobilised a combined team of police operatives and other security personnel to the scene. The area was swiftly secured, and a preliminary assessment of the crime scene was conducted as part of ongoing investigative efforts,” the PPRO said.

Jimoh further mentioned that the victim's wife was being treated at the hospital after being shot in the right hand during the assault.

Source