Suspected gunmen have thrown Ode Oriya Village in Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State, into fear after kidnapping the community’s traditional ruler and shooting his wife.
The attack happened late Friday, June 13, 2026, at around 8:05 p.m. According to eyewitnesses, about six armed men invaded the monarch’s home under darkness. They dragged Mr. Adeniyi Adelana away through a bush path behind the house.
During the raid, the monarch’s wife was shot in her right hand. The gunfire caused panic as residents fled their homes.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the incident. He said the monarch’s wife was rescued quickly and rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is recovering and responding well to treatment.
Abayomi added that officers from the Ondo State Police Command, led by the Divisional Police Officer of B Division in Owo, responded immediately after receiving a distress call.
“A full search-and-rescue operation is ongoing,” he said. “Our operatives are combing nearby forests, bush paths, and possible escape routes to find and free the abducted monarch.”
The attack is the latest in a series of gunmen raids across Ondo and neighboring states in recent weeks.
