The Ondo State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against kidnapping and other violent crimes with the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers during a gun battle with police operatives along the Akure–Owo Expressway.
According to an official signed statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the operation took place in the early hours of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at about 3:30 a.m., following a distress call reporting the presence of armed men at Olaiya Block Industry, located beside Ilu-Abo High School in Ilu-Abo.
The statement said preliminary investigations revealed that about seven masked armed men had invaded the premises of the block industry and demanded to see the owner before police operatives from the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, responded swiftly to the emergency.
On sighting the patrol team, the 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 the surrounding bush with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Police recovered a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards believed to belong to members of the criminal syndicate or their victims.
The Command said the bodies of the deceased suspects have 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 for further investigation.
The police added that efforts were underway to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, who are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange.
The Command appealed to healthcare providers and members of the public to promptly report anyone seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot injuries or exhibiting suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
The Ondo State Police Command said the operation underscores its determination to eliminate kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state through intelligence-led policing and proactive operational strategies.
The Command also commended residents for their continued cooperation and urged members of the public to sustain the flow of timely and credible information to support ongoing efforts to rid Ondo State of criminal elements.
