No fewer than five persons were reportedly kidnapped at the weekend at various locations in Ondo state.

Three of the victims including a couple were said to have been abducted at Oba-Akoko area when returning to Akure from a burial ceremony.

A source said the couple, Bunmi Falodun and his wife, attended a social function in Ikare and were returning home with a relative when the incident happened.

The source said the number of the people in the vehicle might be more than three.

According to him, the kidnappers have not contacted the family of the abducted victims or demanded for ransom.

Another victim, Michael Olopete, who is a lecturer at the Marketing department of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), was abducted along Owo/Ipele road.

Olopete, a member of the Deeper Life Church, was said to be coming from a retreat when the armed hoodlums stopped his vehicle and dragged him into the bush.

A source close to the victim explained that the kidnappers had demanded a sum of N30m as ransom for his release.

He said the kidnappers contacted the church and requested for the ransom, adding that there was no further information on the whereabout of the victim.

It was m learnt that some persons including school children were also abducted at Ilu abo in Akure North Local Government Area of the state Saturday evening.

According to an eyewitness, many people escaped being kidnapped along Ogbese/Iluabo junction along Akure/Owo road during the incident which occurred around 5:20 pm.

Narrating his ordeal, another lecturer of RUGIPO, Rahman Abubakar, who escaped being kidnapped, said the gunmen started shooting sporadically to scare travellers and motorists on the ever busy expressway.

“These men invaded the road around 5:20 pm and started shooting to stop movement of vehicles on the road, attacking and picking people from their vehicles.

“I saw the Fulani men shooting sporadically from a distance. I abandoned my car and ran into the bush for safety. But I can see from where I was hiding the hoodlums taking some kids away,” he said.

Speaking on the development, Femi Joseph, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incidents and said men of the state police command had been on the trail of the kidnappers.

Joseph said: “We have resolved to increase our manpower on our roads with more patrol to reduce the activities of these criminals to the barest minimum.

“I can assure you that justice will be done and the search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts, to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

•Sourced from a Daily Independent report

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