Suspected kidnappers have killed one person and abducted a businesswoman at Ayede Ogbese in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Peoples Gazette gathered that the victim, Okudili Okoro, 34, was shot dead when the suspects invaded the community to abduct a businesswoman, identified only as Orogun.
One of the locals, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers struck around 10:30pm on Thursday in two vehicles.
He stated that the armed men numbering about 10 besieged the community in a commando style and began to shoot indiscriminately before whisking away Mrs Orogun.
He added, “It was a sad incident yesterday in Ogbese when the gunmen numbering over 10 invaded the community to kidnap two women who were into provisions and cosmetics goods. The gunmen came in two vehicles to carry out the operation. Unfortunately, the suspects, while trying to get to one of their targets, shot dead Okoro and immediately whisked away Orogun, who operates big provisions store in the community.’’
It was further learnt that the kidnappers escaped through the Akure/Owo road with their victim despite the presence of military and security check points on the routes.
Contacted, the state police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the killing and abduction cases in a statement.
Mr Ayanlade said that the gunmen shot dead Okoro and immediately drove off in two unregistered vehicles after abducting their victim.
He stated, “I can confirm to you that yesterday at about 2030hrs, one Okudili Okoro ‘m’ 34-year-old was shot dead at Ogbese while one Mrs orogun ‘f’ was whisked away by the unknown gunmen numbering about 10. The gunmen drove off in two vehicles namely: an unregistered Silver coloured EOD car that is headed towards Akure after the operation and an unregistered, grey-coloured Toyota Camry that is also headed towards Owo after the attack.’’
According to him, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, had already visited the scene at Ogbese and instructed all tactical commanders to ensure the victim’s rescue and arrest of the kidnappers.
It added, “Earlier today, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal Psc+, mnips, was in Ayede Ogbese and ordered all tactical commanders to do everything possible to ensure that the victim is rescued unharmed and those responsible arrested.
“We, however, urge the good people of Ondo State to cooperate with us, and anyone with relevant information should please come forward.”
The incident is coming barely two weeks after an official of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Omoniyi Eleyinmi, was abducted by gunmen.
Although, Mr Eleyinmi later regained freedom after a five-million-naira ransom was paid by his family members – nearly a week after his abduction by a seven-man kidnap gang.
The police later arrested the gang members alongside a commercial motorcyclist (Okada Rider), Benson Alaba, alleged to have aided Mr Eleyinmi’s abduction from his house.
Mr Alaba, 45, was arrested alongside six other suspects following a discreet, intelligence-driven operation by operatives of the command, which uncovered the coordinated roles each suspect allegedly played in Mr Eleyinmi’s abduction.
Other arrested suspects are: Wasiu Ogungbemi (42), Audu Shaibu (25), Ismaila Abdullahi (24), Nuru Bature (18), Usman Baba (20), and Yusuf Muhammed (23).
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