Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted several worshippers during a predawn attack on a church in the Uso community of Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State in South-West Nigeria.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at about 12:50 a.m., when a group of armed men reportedly forced their way into a worship service at a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) located along the busy Uso-Owo Expressway.
According to a statement confirmed by DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, the attackers seized the worshippers and whisked them away to an undisclosed location.
“The victims were reportedly taken to an unknown destination,” Jimoh said in the statement.
There are varying reports on the number of abductees. While some outlets cite five worshippers kidnapped, others report up to six worshippers taken by the gunmen.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups, were swiftly mobilised to the scene following the distress call, launching coordinated rescue operations.
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So far, one of the abducted victims has reportedly been rescued by security operatives, and one suspect linked to the attack has been apprehended and is said to be cooperating with investigators.
Authorities have appealed to residents to remain calm and assist security agencies with credible information that could help locate the remaining victims and bring all perpetrators to justice.
The attack has heightened concerns about insecurity in the region, particularly along the Akure–Owo highway corridor, which has witnessed similar violent incidents in recent times.
