Akure—No fewer than 10 travellers have reportedly been abducted by gunmen on the Owo-Ipele -Benin highway.
However, the state police command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, confirmed that seven persons were kidnapped by the gunmen.
Sources told Vanguard in Akure, the Ondo State capital, that the travellers were coming from a state in the South-South and heading towards Akure, when the gunmen struck.
The commercial vehicle in which they were travelling was later discovered by the roadside by other commercials drivers who raised the alarm.
Vanguard learned that the kidnappers have opened a line of communication with the families of their victims and have demanded for ransom. They reportedly threatened to kill the victims if the ransom was delayed.
Sources said the travellers were ordered out of their vehicle by the bandits, who marched them into the forest.
According to him, “The hoodlums ambushed them and whisked all the occupants of the vehicle into the bush. All the occupants of the vehicle were abducted and nobody heard anything about them since then.”
Contacted, the police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said: “The Police received an information that a vehicle was attacked on the Owo/Ifon Road, and seven people were suspected to have been abducted.
“Security operatives moved to the scene, combed the area for possible rescue of the victims and are conducting a search-and-rescue operation for the abductees.”
