AKURE, Nigeria — A swift, multi-agency security operation in Owo has culminated in the safe rescue of a 26-year-old woman, Miss Ogechi John, and the arrest of four suspected members of an abduction syndicate.
The successful operation was executed through a coordinated effort by the Ondo State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, and community vigilantes.
The Abduction and Rapid Response
The crisis began on Monday, June 8, 2026, when Miss John was forcibly seized by armed men at the Gozako Filling Station along the Emure–Akure Expressway. Witnesses reported that the assailants arrived in an unregistered, ash-coloured Toyota Camry, shoved the victim inside, and sped off toward an unknown destination.
Upon receiving the distress call, the Ondo State Police Command immediately triggered an emergency containment strategy. Under the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, joint security teams sealed off critical entry and exit points across Owo and neighbouring communities while tactical units launched an intensive sweep of the nearby forests.
Breakthrough and Arrests
The intense operational pressure forced the kidnappers to abandon their plans early. The suspects’ getaway Toyota Camry was discovered abandoned in a dense bush track at Ojana, Owo.
Following up on actionable technical intelligence, operatives closed in on the syndicate’s local trail, arresting four suspects. The police identified the detained individuals as:
- Friday Shola (27)
- Friday Monday (21)
- Osho Joseph (24)
- Lawal Mariam
At the time of their arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a female-model motorcycle, which investigators believe was used to facilitate the logistics of the crime.
Manhunt for Fleeing Herbalist
During preliminary interrogations, one of the suspects confessed to the police that the unregistered Toyota Camry used in the abduction had been handed over to a local herbalist identified as Lawal Lucky, a resident of Idimepe Street in Owo.
While the four primary suspects remain in custody, police have launched a manhunt for Lucky, who fled his residence before detectives arrived and is currently at large.
Victim Rescued Safely
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that Miss Ogechi John was rescued unharmed from the pressure of the pursuit. She has since been reunited with her family and is receiving psychological and medical support from state medical teams.
In a press brief signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abayomi Jimoh, Commissioner Felix Ohagwu lauded the tactical precision and resilience shown by the combined forces. He reassured the public that Ondo State will remain inhospitable to criminal elements.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or individuals to the emergency channels or through their official social media handles.
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