Armed assailants invaded Idogun town in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State before dawn on Friday, June 5, 2026, leaving two structures in ruins and a minor missing. The attack was carried out at about 1:30am and sent residents scrambling for safety.

The kidnapped child is Oluwatobi Olaosebikan, nine years old, son of Pastor Isaac Olaosebikan who ministers in the area. According to eyewitness accounts, the hoodlums entered Ugbosi Quarters firing shots into the air to instill fear, then vandalized two homes before abducting the boy and disappearing into the bush.

Residents said the sound of gunfire triggered a mass exodus as families fled to nearby villages for protection. The matter was reported to law enforcement around 2:30am by both the pastor and another community member, Joel Owalekan.

Ondo Police Command spokesman DSP Abayomi Ayanlade confirmed the incident via WhatsApp. He disclosed that operatives have begun a manhunt for the abductors and are intensifying efforts to free the child. “We have commenced intensive tracking of the suspected kidnappers who struck Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun,” he said.

The incident highlights rising attacks on rural communities in Ondo, where criminal gangs continue to target settlements with kidnappings and property destruction.

Source: Punch.