USO, Nigeria – Gunmen abducted five worshippers in the early hours of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, during a church service in Uso, a town in Ondo State, Nigerian police said.
The attack occurred at about 1 a.m. at a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ in Uso, which lies within Owo Local Government Area.
According to police, armed men entered the church while worship was ongoing, seized five people and took them to an undisclosed location.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident in a statement sent to journalists in Akure on Wednesday.
“Upon receiving the report, operatives of the command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, immediately mobilised to the scene and commenced coordinated rescue operations,” Jimoh said.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Police said that joint operations led to the rescue of one of the abducted worshippers and the arrest of a suspect linked to the attack.
“As a result of sustained joint efforts, one of the kidnapped victims has been successfully rescued,” Jimoh said.
“Additionally, one suspect linked to the incident has been arrested and has made useful statements that are assisting with ongoing investigations.”
He added that security agencies were continuing efforts to locate the remaining victims and apprehend others involved in the abduction.
Jimoh urged residents of Uso and surrounding communities to remain calm and vigilant, and to cooperate with security forces by providing credible information that could support the rescue operation.
Abductions for ransom and attacks on places of worship have become a growing concern in parts of Nigeria, prompting increased collaboration between police, the military and local vigilante groups in affected areas.
