Business
Ondo Police Foil Two Kidnap Attempts in Owo, Rescue Victims and Family Members
BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—The Ondo State Police Command under the proactive leadership of CP Felix Ohagwu psc, mnips, mspsp has successfully foiled two separate kidnap attempts in Owo Local Government Area of the State, rescuing all victims involved and forcing the fleeing criminals to abandon their mission following swift and coordinated security operations.
The incidents, which occurred within a few hours of each other on Sunday, 21st June, 2026, underscore the Command’s proactive operational readiness and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts aimed at combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the State.
The first incident occurred at about 7:05 p.m. when the Police received a distress call indicating that a six-man armed kidnapping gang had stormed the residence of Pastor Taiwo Taiwo, Chairman of Ojana New Area, Owo, with the intention of abducting him. Acting promptly on the information, the Divisional Police Officer, B Division, Owo, mobilized and led a patrol team to the scene.
Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the armed assailants, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The superior tactical response and determination of the Police operatives forced the criminals to retreat into the surrounding bush, abandoning their plan. The intended victim and his family members were successfully rescued unharmed and subsequently relocated to a safer location for enhanced security and protection.
In a related development later that same night, at about 11:10 p.m., another armed gang attacked one Daniel Ologun, a 39-year-old resident of Gbegun Community along Alhaja Camp, off Housing Estate, Owo. During the attack, the victim sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg while the assailants forcefully took his wife, Mrs. Taibat Ologun, aged 34 years, and their two young children, aged four and two years respectively, into the bush.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Police immediately launched a rescue operation. The rapid deployment of operatives and sustained pressure mounted on the fleeing kidnappers disrupted their movement and compelled them to abandon the Mr Daniel Ologun. In a coordinated search-and-rescue effort involving the Police and personnel of the Nigerian Army, Mrs. Ologun and her two children were later successfully rescued unhurt from the assailants who escaped with gunshot injurieat about 1:50 a.m.
The injured victim was promptly taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where he is currently receiving medical attention and responding positively to treatment.
Meanwhile, joint security teams comprising Police operatives and military personnel have intensified bush-combing operations in the affected areas and adjoining forests with a view to apprehending the fleeing suspects and dismantling any criminal hideouts within the axis. Efforts are ongoing to track down all members of the criminal gangs involved in the attacks and bring them to justice.
CP Felix Ohagwu, psc, mnips, mspsp, has directed that the rescued victims be immediately debriefed to obtain additional information that may assist ongoing investigations and intelligence-gathering efforts aimed at identifying and apprehending the fleeing suspects. Afterwhich all rescued victims be reunited with their families while ensuring that necessary security measures are put in place for their continued safety and well-being.
The CP commends the bravery and swift response of the operatives involved in both operations, as well as the support of the Nigerian Army and members of the public who provided timely information that aided the successful rescue missions.
The post Ondo Police Foil Two Kidnap Attempts in Owo, Rescue Victims and Family Members appeared first on Business Today NG.
Farmers across the Niger Delta are set to gain greater access to certified seeds and quality planting materials following a two-year partnership between the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
The organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NASC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja to expand community-based seed production, strengthen certification and inspection, develop local seed enterprises and mobilise investment in Nigeria’s domestic seed industry.
The partnership combines NASC’s regulatory and quality-assurance mandate with PIND’s market systems expertise and networks of Community Seed Entrepreneurs, Farm Service Providers, Business Service Providers, research institutions and private-sector partners.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NASC Director-General, Fatuhu Muhammed, said the agreement would help bring quality-assurance services closer to farmers and seed producers.
“A productive agricultural sector begins with quality seeds. By working with PIND and its networks across the Niger Delta, NASC can extend certification and inspection services to more communities, protect farmers from poor-quality planting materials and create stronger pathways for investment in Nigeria’s seed industry,” Mr Muhammed said.
PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Daibo, said the partnership would help move proven community-level interventions to institutional adoption and scale.
“Many farmers understand the value of quality seeds but cannot access certified planting materials when and where they need them. By combining NASC’s regulatory leadership with PIND’s market systems experience, we can close that gap, strengthen local seed enterprises and help farmers build more productive and commercially viable livelihoods,” Mr Daibo said.
From cassava to other crops
The MoU formalises a collaboration dating back to 2016 through the Building an Economically Sustainable Seed System for Cassava programme, implemented in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI).
The collaboration later expanded into community-based cassava seed multiplication, with NASC certifying seed plots across the Niger Delta.
Under the new framework, NASC and PIND will expand NASC-certified community seed multiplication across the region.
NASC will lead certification and quality assurance, while PIND will support enterprise development, technical assistance and market linkages.
According to the statement, the partners will also extend NASC’s Licensed Seed Inspectors Scheme into the Niger Delta, drawing potential candidates from PIND’s Farm Service Provider and Business Service Provider networks.
The partnership will further promote domestic seed production for high-demand vegetables, including tomato, pepper and cucumber, while expanding access to cassava, banana and yam planting materials produced through NASC’s PROSSIVA programme, the statement said.
It said the agreement will also support the Mastercard Foundation-funded WISE programme by enabling NASC to certify Community Seed Entrepreneurs trained to supply quality cassava planting materials to women producers across the Niger Delta.
ALSO READ: NBMA disposes of 950kg of unapproved GM cotton seeds
The partnership’s first major joint deliverable will be the Nigeria Seed Systems Forum 2026 in Abuja.
The forum is expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, researchers, investors, seed companies, development partners and farmers to advance policy, investment and market action in Nigeria’s seed sector.
A Joint Technical Working Group comprising representatives of NASC and PIND will coordinate implementation and track progress under the agreement.
Through the partnership, the organisations aim to strengthen the connection between regulation, research, enterprise development and markets, bringing certified seeds closer to farmers while supporting a stronger and more commercially sustainable seed industry in Nigeria.
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