By Bukola Olamona
The Ondo State Police Command has condemned the violent attack on Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Area of the state, assuring residents of heightened security deployment and sustained efforts to track down the perpetrators.
The command, in a statement signed by its spokesperson and made available to The Hope, said the incident occurred despite ongoing patrols, intelligence-led operations and strategic deployment of personnel to vulnerable areas of the state.
The command said, the attack was recorded on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at about 8p.m along Liberty Avenue in the Ilu-Abo area.
Preliminary findings revealed that about six armed men ambushed and shot at a resident, John Ofuduwa, as he drove into his residence in a Toyota Camry saloon car with Abuja registration number GWA 674 CM.
He sustained a gunshot injury during the attack.
The statement further disclosed that during the same incident, a neighbour, Oladeinde Tomilola, who was about to enter her compound, was abducted by the assailants.
It added that two other persons, identified as Victoria and her 11-year-old daughter, who were passing through the area at the time, sustained varying degrees of injuries from the gunfire.
All injured victims were immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, on Monday visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation and interact with members of the community.
He condemned the attack in strong terms and assured residents that security measures had been reinforced with additional tactical and intelligence-driven operations to ensure the arrest of those responsible and forestall further occurrences.
After the on-the-spot assessment, Lawal also paid a visit to the palace of the Oluabo of Iluabo, Oba (Dr.) Oluyemi Falae.
The monarch, who also condemned the attack, pledged the full support of the palace to security agencies, assuring that local vigilante groups would be mobilised to complement ongoing efforts.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
The Commander of 32 Brigade Artillery of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Justin Ifeanyi, accompanied the Commissioner during the assessment and assured that the Army would provide the necessary support to ensure the arrest of the attackers and the rescue of the abducted victim.
Lawal emphasised that effective policing depends on synergy and cooperation between security agencies and the public, calling on residents to provide credible and actionable information to aid investigations.
The Ondo State Police Command reassured the public that intensive operations were ongoing, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to secure the safe rescue of the abducted woman and bring the perpetrators to justice.