Gunmen on Wednesday ambushed a vehicle belonging to the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Prince Biyi Poroye, leaving his driver injured in the state capital, Akure.
The victim, identified as Samuel Bernard, was reportedly shot during the attack. According to an official statement issued on Thursday by OSOPADEC spokesman Godwin Ewata, the assault occurred shortly after Bernard had returned from an official trip to the riverine areas of the state with the chairman.
Ewata explained that the driver had gone home following the engagement when armed men launched the attack. In addition to shooting Bernard, the assailants also inflicted a machete wound on his head before making away with his vehicle.
The attackers seized the keys to the OSOPADEC chairman’s official car, which Bernard had kept with him, along with some sensitive documents. However, Ewata said the car was later recovered thanks to a tracking device installed in the vehicle.
He narrated that community members responded quickly to Bernard’s cries for help, pursued the attackers, and successfully retrieved the stolen car along with its keys and the documents. Bernard was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors conducted an X-ray and provided treatment for his injuries.
Ondo State Police spokesman Olayinka Ayanlade confirmed the incident and disclosed that an investigation had been launched. He assured the public that security operatives are determined to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The attack has stirred concern in Akure and beyond, as it highlights the persistent insecurity challenges confronting residents and public officials in the state. Although the motive of the assailants has not yet been established, authorities are treating the matter as a serious criminal act.
The incident comes at a time when Ondo State has been intensifying security operations to curb criminal activities across its communities. Only recently, the government began a clampdown on fake and counterfeit drugs, part of a wider effort to strengthen law enforcement and protect residents.
For now, Bernard remains under medical care, while both the police and community vigilante groups are on alert to prevent further attacks. The chairman of OSOPADEC, Poroye, has not publicly commented on the incident, but officials within the commission have expressed relief that the stolen car and documents were recovered swiftly.
