Armed men invaded a rural community in Ondo State, Nigeria, in the early hours of Friday, abducting a nine-year-old boy and injuring residents during a violent overnight raid.
The attack took place at Igbosi Community in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State. The gunmen entered the area at around 1:00 a.m., firing sporadically to scatter residents before carrying out the operation.
The victim, identified as Master Olaosebikan Victor, was taken from his family's home after the attackers broke into the premises and his father fled into a nearby bush. The boy is nine years old. His father, Mr. Olaosebikan Isaac, is a pastor in the community.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident and said it had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers. Police spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said the attack was reported at about 2:30 a.m. by Isaac Olaosebikan and another resident, Joel Owalekan.
Ayanlade said preliminary investigations showed the gunmen invaded Ugbosi Quarters in Idogun at about 1:30 a.m., shooting in the air and creating confusion among residents. The assailants forced their way into the pastor's residence. In a bid to save himself, he fled into the surrounding bush, leaving behind his son, who was then abducted.
The same group also attempted to break into Owalekan's residence and damaged sections of the building before fleeing.
Two buildings were damaged during the attack. Several residents sustained injuries while trying to flee, and the attackers vandalised property before leaving the community.
A relative of the victim's family, AbdulAzeez Adewuyi, who lives in Akure, the Ondo State capital, confirmed the incident to Premium Times. He said family members in the affected community had since moved temporarily to a relative's home in Owo.
Police operatives and personnel of the Amotekun Corps, the South-West regional security outfit, were deployed to the area shortly after the attack. Security teams have been combing nearby forests and monitoring escape routes in an effort to locate the child and arrest those responsible.
A deputy superintendent of police told Premium Times that the incident was reported to police shortly after the attack and that an investigation had commenced. Police and local security teams were making every effort to arrest the perpetrators and secure the release of the child.
The attack adds to growing concern over insecurity in parts of the South-West, where incidents of kidnapping and attacks on rural communities have heightened fears among residents. Ondo State has recorded several similar incidents in recent months, with rural communities in Ose and neighboring local government areas reporting increasing armed activity.
The Ondo State government had not issued a public statement on this specific incident at the time of publication. The police command said the investigation was active and ongoing.
No ransom demand had been made public as of the time this report was filed.