The Nigeria Police Force, Ondo State Command, has confirmed the abduction of six worshippers from a Celestial Church along the Uso/Owo Expressway in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at about 12:50 a.m., has heightened security concerns in the area, particularly along the busy corridor linking Uso and Owo communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday that the victims were taken to an unknown destination by the assailants.
According to him, security operatives swiftly responded after receiving a distress report. He said officers of the command, working in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, immediately mobilised to the scene and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
“As a result of sustained joint efforts, one of the kidnapped victims has been successfully rescued,” Jimoh stated.
He further revealed that one suspected informant linked to the attack had been arrested and is currently assisting investigators with ongoing inquiries aimed at dismantling the network behind the crime.
Security operations, the police said, remain ongoing to secure the release of the remaining five victims and apprehend all those involved in the abduction.
The command urged residents of Owo and surrounding communities to remain calm but vigilant, calling on members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and actionable intelligence that could aid the rescue efforts.
The latest incident underscores persistent security challenges in parts of Ondo State, where authorities have repeatedly pledged to intensify surveillance and inter-agency collaboration to curb criminal activities.
