By Gloria Drealomalicha
Residents of Odo-Oriya community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have been left shaken after suspected kidnappers abducted their traditional ruler, Adeniyi Adelana, during a violent attack on his palace.
The 60-year-old monarch was reportedly seized on Saturday night when armed men stormed his residence under the cover of darkness and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
The attack also left his wife injured after she was shot in the right hand while the gunmen carried out the abduction.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, said security operatives had launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation to secure the monarch’s freedom and apprehend those responsible.
According to the police, the incident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. when approximately six armed men invaded the palace of the Baale of Odo-Oriya and forcefully took him away through a nearby bush path.
Upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of B Division in Owo immediately deployed a combined team of police officers and other security personnel to the scene. The area was secured while investigators carried out an initial assessment of the attack.
Police said the monarch’s wife was quickly rescued and rushed to a medical facility, where she is receiving treatment. Authorities disclosed that she is responding positively to medical care.
In a bid to locate the abducted traditional ruler, security operatives have intensified search efforts across surrounding forests, bush paths and suspected escape routes. Additional tactical deployments have also been made in neighbouring communities to strengthen security and support ongoing operations.
The Commissioner of Police has directed tactical units, intelligence officers and operational teams across the state to intensify efforts towards the swift rescue of the monarch and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Command remains committed to ensuring that the victim is safely reunited with his family and that all those involved in the crime are brought to justice,” Jimoh said.
The police urged residents to remain calm and continue with their daily activities while cooperating with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist ongoing investigations and rescue efforts.
The abduction has heightened anxiety among residents and adds to growing concerns over the rising wave of kidnappings and violent attacks in parts of Ondo State, where communities have increasingly called for stronger security measures to protect lives and property.
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