By VICTOR OGUNJE

Barely a week after four persons were kidnapped at Ayebode in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, eight victims were allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday at Itapaji Ekiti in the same council area.

The abductors were said to have contacted the family early on Wednesday and demanded a sum of N50 million as ransom.

An eyewitness revealed to journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, that the gunmen had besieged a house located in the town around 9.30pm, shot sporadically into the air and made away with eight occupants of the building.

The gunshots that lasted for over one hour were said to have terrified the residents of the community.

The source said the owner of the building was preparing for his mother’s burial and the preparations were said to be in the top gear when the evil men struck.

“The men numbering seven came around 9.30pm with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically.

“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down. They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush.

“Early today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors and demanded a ransom of N50m,” he said.

The source added that lack of police stations in Itapaji-Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako axes was responsible for the increasing cases of kidnapping in the area, saying the nearest police station is in Ikole Ekiti, which is over 40 minutes drive to the troubled spots.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident.

Abutu said: “The command is working on that. Already, special police operatives as well as the JTF have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits.” (THISDAY)

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