Panic swept through the Igbosi area of Idogun in Ose LGA of Ondo state in the early hours of Friday after armed attackers stormed the community, destroyed two houses and abducted a nine-year-old boy.
Residents said the assailants arrived around 1 a.m., firing gunshots into the air and forcing many people to flee their homes for safety.
During the attack, two buildings were damaged while the kidnappers seized the young boy, identified as Oluwatobi, Isaac Olaosebikan, the son of a local pastor.
A community source disclosed that the sustained gunfire created confusion, prompting residents to seek refuge in neighbouring settlements.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo state police command said it had launched an intensive operation to rescue the child and track down those responsible for the attack.
According to the command, the case was reported shortly after the incident by community members who said armed men invaded the area and unleashed terror on residents.
Police said the attackers reportedly forced their way into the pastor’s residence. In an attempt to escape, the cleric fled into nearby bushes, leaving behind his son, who was subsequently taken away by the gunmen.
Another resident whose home was targeted during the attack reportedly escaped unharmed after fleeing the scene before the assailants could gain access to his house.
The command said security personnel, working alongside operatives of the Ondo state security network agency, popularly known as Amotekun, were immediately deployed to the area. Search teams have since begun combing nearby forests and possible escape routes in a bid to locate the abducted child and apprehend the suspects.
Police authorities added that investigations are underway and relevant evidence has been collected to aid efforts to identify and prosecute those behind the attack.
The commissioner of Police in Ondo state has directed tactical and intelligence units to intensify rescue operations while collaborating with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure the victim is returned safely and the perpetrators brought to justice.
