Residents of Owo were thrown into panic on Sunday following separate attacks by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in different parts of the community.
The gunmen invaded Ojana area of the town, attacked the residence of Pastor Taiwo, at about 7:00 p.m in an attempt to abduct him.
The members of his family raised the alarm, leading to swift response from operatives at the B Division Police station and foiled the abduction attempt.
The gunmen reportedly fled into a nearby bush, abandoning their victim, who was rescued unharmed.
In another incident at about 11:30 p.m, kidnappers invaded the home of a 39-year-old man, Daniel Ologun in Gbegun Community, Alhaja Camp, off Housing Estate, Owo, and shot him in the left leg.
The gunmen however abducted his wife, Taibat, and their two children.
A distress call by residents, security operatives, including personnel of the Police and Army, launched a pursuit of the kidnappers into the forest.
The victims were rescued unhurt in the early hours of Monday after they were abandoned by their abductors in the bush.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, who confirmed the incidents, said security operatives were combing the forests to apprehend the suspects.
Jimoh commended the officers involved in the rescue operations.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
