The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the kidnappers of Mrs. Elizabeth Uruakpa, a 66-year-old widow and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan Remo. Uruakpa was abducted by masked gunmen on Thursday evening as she returned from a church service.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. when Uruakpa, who had just left the evening service at Winners’ Chapel, was ambushed at the entrance of her home, located behind the new Ilisan market. The gunmen, who had been lying in wait, swiftly dragged her from her vehicle and forced her into their getaway car, a red Toyota Camry, before speeding off.
The sudden and violent abduction sent shockwaves through the quiet neighborhood, causing residents and shop owners to quickly shut their doors in fear. One local resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the harrowing scene: “The woman was coming back from the church when the gunmen abducted her. They dragged her down from her vehicle and put her in their red Toyota car. It was really like a thunderbolt; such a thing has never happened before in our neighborhood. It is so strange and scary.”
Dr. Joshua Suleiman, Director of Communication and Marketing at Babcock University, confirmed the troubling news.
“I heard about it last night. It was shared on one of the university’s platforms, but I don’t have a comprehensive report yet. Someone is working on gathering more information, and as soon as it’s ready, I will get back to you,” Suleiman told reporters on Friday.
The Ogun State Police Command also confirmed the incident and has since mobilized efforts to rescue the kidnapped nurse. SP Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the command, provided details of the abduction on her X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“On September 5, a distress call was received from Ilisan near the new market at about 17:10hrs that one Elizabeth Uruakpa was abducted by young armed men who blocked her Honda CRV with their unregistered Red Toyota Camry and zoomed off with her,” Odutola wrote.
Odutola assured the public that the police are actively investigating the case and are committed to securing Uruakpa’s safe return.
“The police have started a rescue operation to secure the safe return of the victim. We are investigating, and very soon, we will make a breakthrough,” she added.