Bandits kidnap Ondo traditional ruler, shoot wife during palace attack

Suspected bandits have abducted Oba Adeniyi Adelana, the traditional ruler of Odo-Oriya community in Owo local government area of Ondo state.

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The monarch was reportedly abducted on Saturday night when gunmen invaded his palace. Abayomi Jimoh, spokesperson of the Ondo police command, confirmed the incident in a statement.

Jimoh said the monarch’s wife sustained a gunshot injury during the attack and is receiving treatment.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 8:05 pm when approximately six armed men stormed the residence of the traditional ruler.

“Preliminary reports indicate that at about 8:05 p.m. on the reported date, a group of approximately six armed men stormed the residence of Mr. Adeniyi Adelana, aged 60, the Baale of Ode Oriya Village.

“The assailants reportedly invaded the premises under the cover of darkness and forcefully whisked the victim away through a nearby bush path to an unknown destination,” part of the statement read.

Jimoh said the Divisional Police Officer in Owo immediately mobilised security personnel to the area after receiving a distress report.

“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of B Division, Owo, immediately mobilized a combined team of police operatives and other security personnel to the scene.

“The area was swiftly secured, and a preliminary assessment of the crime scene was conducted as part of ongoing investigative efforts,” he said.

The police spokesperson said the monarch’s wife was rescued and taken to a medical facility after she was shot in the hand.

“In the course of the attack, the victim’s wife sustained a gunshot injury to her right hand. She was promptly rescued and taken to a nearby medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and responding positively to medical care,” he said.

Jimoh said security operatives had launched a search-and-rescue operation across forests and surrounding communities.

“A comprehensive search-and-rescue operation was immediately activated, with security operatives combing nearby forests, bush paths, and suspected escape routes in a determined effort to track the movement of the kidnappers, secure the victim’s safe release, and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

He added that tactical deployments had been reinforced across the area to support the operation, strssing that CP Wilfred Afolabi had directed all tactical units and intelligence teams to intensify efforts to rescue the monarch and arrest the suspects.

“The Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring that the victim is reunited safely with his family while all those involved face the full weight of the law,” he concluded.