Residents of Ondo State have taken to the streets in protest following the abduction of worshippers from a church in Owo Local Government Area.
The demonstrators blocked the busy Akure–Owo Expressway, leaving commuters and motorists stranded for hours as they demanded urgent action from security agencies.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that five worshippers were abducted by gunmen during an overnight service at a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ in Uso. The attackers reportedly stormed the church around 1 a.m. on Wednesday and whisked the victims to an unknown location.
Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh said security operatives, working alongside the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, swiftly mobilised to the scene and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
He disclosed that one of the kidnapped worshippers has been rescued, while one suspect linked to the incident has been arrested and is assisting investigators.
“Operations are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of all those involved,” Jimoh added.
The latest attack has heightened tensions in the state, coming nearly four years after the deadly assault on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo in 2022, which left dozens dead and many others injured. Authorities recently announced the arrest of an additional suspect in connection with that attack, while five others are facing prosecution.
Security concerns have continued to mount across Ondo and the wider South-West region due to rising cases of kidnapping and armed attacks.
In January, residents of Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government Area staged a similar protest after a spike in abductions. The demonstration followed the kidnapping of a woman, Oladeinde Tomilola, who was seized outside her home by armed men who opened fire on her vehicle.
During that incident, two neighbours who attempted to intervene were shot and taken to hospital for treatment. A woman and her 11-year-old daughter also sustained injuries from stray bullets.
Residents say the growing insecurity has left many communities living in fear, with renewed calls for stronger security measures across the state.
