There is growing tension in Ode Oriya Village in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the abduction of a community leader by suspected gunmen.

The victim, Mr. Adeniyi Adelana, the Baale of Ode Oriya Village, was reportedly kidnapped during a late-night attack on his residence.

Eyewitness accounts and police reports indicate that the incident occurred at about 8:05 p.m. when armed men invaded the community under the cover of darkness.

The attackers, numbering about six, were said to have stormed the residence of the community leader and forcefully whisked him away through a nearby bush path.

During the attack, the victim’s wife was shot in the right hand by the gunmen, causing panic in the community.

She was quickly rescued and taken to a nearby medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and is said to be responding positively.

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command, led by the Divisional Police Officer of B Division in Owo, immediately mobilised to the scene following a distress call.

The area was secured, and preliminary investigations were carried out as security agencies began efforts to track the movement of the kidnappers.

A full-scale search-and-rescue operation has since been launched, with police operatives combing surrounding forests, bush paths, and suspected escape routes to locate and rescue the abducted community leader.

The police have assured residents of their commitment to ensuring the safe return of the victim and bringing those responsible for the attack to justice, while urging members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist ongoing operations.