The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the abduction of three members of a family by suspected gunmen at Ipojo Golden Estate, Oke-Eri, in Ijebu Ode area of the state.
The victims were reportedly abducted around 7pm on Monday when about 15 armed men invaded the community.
The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying the command had activated tactical and intelligence operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the incident at Ipojo Golden Estate, Oke-Eri, Ijebu Ode, and has intensified tactical and intelligence operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
“The command remains proactive and committed to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state,” he said.
Eyewitnesses and family members said the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community unexpectedly, throwing residents into panic.
The assailants were said to have invaded the family residence, ransacked the house and abducted three members of the family.
A woman was also reportedly shot during the attack as the kidnappers made their way into a nearby forest.
Sources in the community said the head of the family, a government employee, was away at his duty post when the incident occurred.
A community leader in Ipojo Golden Estate, Mr Kehinde, described the incident as disturbing and called on the government to strengthen security in the area.
“We never imagined such an incident could happen in this community. Residents were caught unawares because this is considered a peaceful and developed area,” he said.
He appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The head of the Badewa family in Ijebu Ode, Mr Yesiru Badewa, whose relatives were kidnapped, said the incident had left the family devastated.
According to him, the victims included two women and a man. He expressed concern over the health condition of one of the abducted women, who he said was ill before the incident.
“We are deeply worried because one of the women is sick, and the hardship in captivity may worsen her condition,” he said.
Badewa appealed to the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts aimed at rescuing the victims.
Residents of the community also lamented that the attack had created fear in the area, with many now afraid to go about their daily activities.
The latest incident comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity in parts of Ogun State, particularly in agrarian communities across Ijebuland.
Recently, fish farmers in the area raised the alarm over increasing cases of abduction by armed hoodlums and appealed to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to strengthen security in the region.
The farmers cited the recent abduction of a fish farmer, Adams Omamegbe, and four women who visited his farm at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster, Agoro, in Odogbolu Local Government Area.
They alleged that the victims were released only after a ransom of N70m was paid, warning that residents now live in fear of further attacks.
