Two Suspected Kidnappers Killed in Gun Battle Along Akure-Owo Expressway
Two suspected kidnappers were killed in the early hours of Wednesday during a gun battle with police operatives at Ilu-Abo along the Akure-Owo Expressway, the Ondo State Police Command has revealed.

The Command said the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, when operatives of 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 along the expressway.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, about seven masked gunmen had stormed the block industry premises and demanded to see the owner before the patrol team, acting on credible intelligence, moved swiftly to the scene.

A fierce exchange of gunfire followed, during which two of the suspects were neutralized while the rest of the gang fled into the bush, with the police saying they sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries in the process.

Items recovered from the scene include a locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks, and two ATM cards suspected to belong to the syndicate or their victims.

The bodies of the slain suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, while the case has been handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The Command, led by CP Felix Ohagwu, said it has begun efforts to track down the fleeing gang members and appealed to residents, especially healthcare workers, to report anyone with suspicious gunshot injuries or unusual movements to the nearest police station.

The Command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led policing and thanked members of the public for their continued cooperation in tackling crime across the state.