Police Begin Manhunt as Gunmen Kidnap Ondo Monarch, Shoot Wife During Attack

The Ondo State Police Command has launched a coordinated rescue operation following the abduction of a traditional ruler in Ode Oriya community, Owo Local Government Area of the state.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, armed men suspected to be kidnappers invaded the community late on Saturday night and stormed the residence of the monarch before whisking him away to an unknown destination through a nearby bush path.

During the attack, the monarch’s wife reportedly sustained a gunshot injury and was immediately taken to a medical facility where she is receiving treatment.

Security sources said the gunmen operated in large numbers and arrived the community around 8 p.m., creating panic as residents fled for safety while gunshots echoed across the area.

The police spokesperson in the state confirmed that tactical teams, intelligence units, and local security operatives have been deployed to comb surrounding forests and possible escape routes in an effort to rescue the victim and arrest the perpetrators.

Authorities also assured residents that a full-scale investigation has begun, while urging members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could aid the rescue operation.

The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Ondo State, where rural communities have increasingly faced attacks involving kidnapping and armed violence in recent months.