Travellers abducted by gunmen in Ondo

Numerous commuters were allegedly kidnapped on Saturday night on the Benin-Owo Expressway in Ifon, the administrative centre of the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

As of the time this article was filed, the precise number of victims could not be determined, however, some sources said there were more than 40 victims.

Another source, however, claimed that the 32 passengers were on their way from Ondo State to Benin City, Edo State, in a Coastal bus. However, when they reached the Ifon area, hoodlums emerged from the bush and stopped the vehicle before dragging all of the passengers into the bush.

The source said, “The people (victims) and they were going to Benin when they were kidnapped in the Ifon area on their way yesterday ( Saturday) and nobody has heard anything about them since then.”

The state's police public relations officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, verified the event when called on Sunday. She was unsure of the precise number of victims, though.

The PPRO, however, said that the command's soldiers and those from other state security organizations had started looking for the victims in the forest.

“Our men and other security agencies are already in the forest to rescue the victims unhurt, while an investigation into the incident has commenced,” Odunlami stated.

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, commonly known as Amotekun, similarly reported that its troops were now searching the state's Benin-Ifon to Owo forest for the victims.

Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of the Amotekun Corps, declared that the command would use whatever means at its disposal to save the victims and purge the state of criminals.

The commander said that "after being briefed, the troops of the corps and other security agencies have started looking for the victims."

Source