The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a gun battle with operatives at Ilu-Abo along the Akure–Owo Expressway.
A statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the incident occurred after officers attached to the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, responded to a distress call over the activities of armed men at Olaiya Block Industry, located beside Ilu-Abo High School.
He said about seven masked gunmen reportedly stormed the block industry and demanded to see the owner before the patrol team arrived at the scene.
According to him, the suspects opened fire on the operatives, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire during which two of the suspected kidnappers were killed.
He said the remaining members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene included a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks and two ATM cards believed to belong to the suspects or their victims.
The police 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 command said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and appealed to healthcare providers and members of the public to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot injuries or exhibiting suspicious movements.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing and urged residents to continue providing credible information to support security operations.
