AKURE, Ondo, — Gunmen have again struck in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, abducting a pregnant woman, Mrs Mary Jesulayomi, in Ayede community late Tuesday, residents and police sources said.
The incident occurred at about 7:40 p.m. near Alagbaka Extension, a short distance from the Federal Secretariat complex in Akure, according to eyewitness accounts and a confirmation by the Ondo State Police Command.
Residents said the assailants arrived in the community shooting sporadically into the air, triggering panic in the agrarian settlement. An elderly resident, Pa Ogunleye Mese, said the gunmen attempted to seize him and his wife but they escaped, while Jesulayomi—who had come to buy something at their shop—was taken away.
Police spokesperson DSP Abayomi Jimoh confirmed the abduction, adding that an 85-year-old woman, Mrs Ogunleye Mese, was also kidnapped during the attack but was later released. Jimoh said the woman’s husband, identified as Pa Ogunleye Mese (90), sustained injuries in the process.
“The command has deployed tactical teams to the scene,” Jimoh said, noting that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
The latest kidnapping comes just days after another high-profile abduction in the same local government area. On Sunday evening, gunmen reportedly stormed Ilu-Abo community, attacked a vehicle and abducted a primary school proprietress, Mrs Oladeinde Tomilola. Local reports said the attackers had initially targeted a businessman, John Ofuduwa, and shot him before allegedly switching to seize the school owner when the primary target escaped.
That earlier attack sparked community protests, with residents barricading roads and demanding stronger security presence, including calls for a permanent checkpoint, according to reports.
Ondo police say they have reinforced security measures in the area, but Tuesday’s incident has renewed concerns among residents about repeated attacks close to major government and residential districts in Akure.
