Nigerian police in Ondo State have confirmed the abduction of six worshippers from a celestial church along the Uso/Owo Expressway in Owo Local Government Area. The incident occurred in the early hours of February 25, at approximately 12:50 a.m., with the victims taken to an undisclosed location by the assailants.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, verified the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday. He detailed that upon receiving the report, police operatives, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, immediately mobilised to the scene. A coordinated rescue operation was launched to trace and recover the abducted individuals.
The joint security action has yielded initial results. One kidnapped victim has been successfully rescued. Furthermore, one suspected informant believed to be connected to the attack has been apprehended and is currently assisting investigators. Security operations remain active in the area, with efforts focused on ensuring the safe rescue of the five remaining victims and the arrest of all involved perpetrators.
In his statement, DSP Jimoh appealed to residents of Owo and surrounding communities to maintain calm while staying vigilant. He urged the public to cooperate fully with security agencies by providing credible and actionable information that could support the ongoing rescue and investigation efforts.
This abduction underscores persistent security challenges in parts of Nigeria, where houses of worship and rural communities have previously been targeted. The swift deployment of a joint police, military, and community response highlights the multi-agency approach often employed in such crises. The focus now remains on resolving the situation without further harm and bringing those responsible to justice, as security personnel continue their search and investigation in the region.
