Our correspondent from Nigeria:
Ondo State, southwest Nigeria A violent armed attack during the night resulted in the kidnapping of a nine-year-old child and the destruction of a number of homes, in an incident that sparked panic among local residents.
Random shooting
According to local sources, armed men stormed the Igbusi area of Idugun township in the Ose municipality at around 1 a.m. on Friday, firing shots indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring areas.
During the attack, the gunmen abducted the child of local pastor Isaac Olausbekan, named Oluwatobi (Victor) Olausbekan, after breaking into his home. Reports indicate that the pastor managed to escape to a nearby wooded area, while his son was left behind and taken to an unknown location.
Ondo State Police received the report at 2:30 AM
For its part, Ondo State Police confirmed the incident, noting that the report was received at approximately 2:30 a.m. from residents of the area, who described a state of extreme panic as a result of intermittent gunfire.
Extensive combing
Police spokesman First Lieutenant Olayinka Ayinladi explained that security forces immediately launched extensive search operations, in cooperation with members of the “Amotekon” Corps, to track down the perpetrators and determine their escape routes within the adjacent forested areas.
He also noted that the investigation teams were able to collect evidence from the scene of the incident, as part of intensive efforts to uncover the circumstances of the incident and expedite the rescue of the kidnapped child.
In the same context, the state police commissioner, Felix O'Hago, directed tactical and intelligence units to intensify search operations, stressing that the top priority is to free the child safely and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
This incident comes amid growing fears of deteriorating security conditions in some areas of Ondo State, especially villages near bushland and forests, which are often exploited by criminal groups as a safe haven.
Local residents called for increased security presence and urgent measures to protect communities from a recurrence of such attacks.
