Monarch Kidnapped, Manhunt On
Ondo Police Launch Manhunt for Abducted Monarch After Wife Shot During Late-Night Attack
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Reporting on the timing differs: Daily Trust said the kidnapping happened on Friday, June 13, at about 8:05 p.m., after gunmen stormed the community under darkness and took the monarch away via a bush path—contrasting with other accounts describing it as Saturday night.
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Ondo State Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh specifically quoted that the monarch’s wife sustained a gunshot injury to her right hand, was “promptly rescued” and taken to a medical facility where she was “responding positively to medical care.”
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Police said the response was triggered immediately by the Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Owo, who mobilised operatives and other security personnel after the distress report—while the area was secured and a preliminary crime-scene assessment was carried out.
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The investigation included higher-level direction: the Ondo State Police command said Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu ordered “tactical units, intelligence teams and other operational personnel” to intensify efforts to both rescue the monarch and arrest the suspects.
Armed gunmen stormed the palace of Adeniyi Adelana, the 60-year-old traditional ruler of Ode Oriya community in Owo, Ondo State, on Saturday night and dragged him away at gunpoint. About six attackers forced the monarch through a bush path into an unknown location, Newsposl reported. During the raid, they shot his wife in her right hand.
The Ondo State Police Command launched a full search-and-rescue operation on Sunday morning. Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh said the monarch's wife was "promptly rescued" and taken to a medical facility, where she is "responding positively to medical care." Authorities are urging the public to remain calm and share any useful information.
Six Gunmen Strike After Dark, Escape Through Forest
The attack happened at around 8:05 p.m., according to Newsposl. The armed men moved "with precision under the cover of darkness," per witness accounts. They entered Adelana's residence, overpowered those inside, and shot his wife before fleeing with the monarch into the surrounding forest. No arrests have been made.
The Divisional Police Officer of B Division, Owo, responded immediately after a distress call. His team secured the palace and carried out a crime-scene assessment, Roving Reporters reported. Tactical and intelligence units were then deployed to comb bush paths, forests, and suspected escape routes used by the kidnappers.
Police Commissioner Orders All-Out Manhunt Across Owo
Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu personally ordered a surge in manpower. He directed "tactical units, intelligence teams and other operational personnel" to intensify efforts to rescue the monarch and arrest the suspects, according to Roving Reporters. Extra deployments were spread across Owo and neighboring communities to close off escape routes.
Ohagwu took charge of Ondo State's police command only on May 19, 2026 — just weeks before the attack. His appointment was framed as a move toward stronger "intelligence-led policing" in a state that has recorded 60 security incidents between January and June 2026, with kidnapping accounting for over 36% of all reported crimes.
Residents Flee as Owo's Kidnapping Crisis Deepens
The abduction has sent shock through Ode Oriya. A community source said: "It is a very pathetic incident, and people are now leaving the village." Farmers in the Owo-Akoko area are already abandoning their fields earlier in the day out of fear. Experts warn this could push up local food prices.
This is not Owo's first attack on a monarch. In February 2026, the traditional ruler of Owo, Oba Olufemi Adewumi, was abducted and later killed by his captors. Security analysts say criminal networks now exploit forest gaps between Ondo and neighboring Edo State to move victims quickly and avoid capture.
Authorities Project Calm but Community Trust Is Eroding
Police are asking for public tips. DSP Jimoh said a "comprehensive search-and-rescue operation was immediately activated to track the movement of the kidnappers." Officers have also launched a crackdown on unregistered vehicles and cars with covered number plates, which police believe criminal groups use to avoid detection.
Critics say official statements focus too much on projecting control. Community voices paint a different picture — one of a village in collapse, not a managed crisis. Clerics in Akure have publicly said "Ondo is being invaded," calling into question whether the current security setup can protect traditional rulers who serve as key links between police and local communities.
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