At least ten travelers have reportedly been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on the Benin-Owo highway at the Ipele area of Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State.
The incident was said to have occurred when the gunmen attacked the travelers, who were reportedly coming from one of the South-South states and heading towards Akure, the state capital.
According to a source, the travelers were ordered out of their vehicle by the armed men, who then marched them into the forest.
He said, **”The hoodlums ambushed them and whisked all the occupants of the vehicle into the bush.
“All the occupants of the vehicle were abducted, and no one has heard anything about them since then.”**
However, it was gathered that the abductors had contacted the families of the victims, demanding an unspecified amount of money as ransom and threatening to kill the victims if the payment was delayed.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, who confirmed the abduction, however, stated that only seven people were kidnapped.
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She said, “The police received information that a vehicle was attacked along the Owo/Ifon road, and seven people were suspected to have been abducted.
“Security operatives moved to the scene, combed the area for a possible rescue of the victims, and are conducting a search-and-rescue operation for the abductees.”**
It will be recalled that some gunmen last week shot dead five farmers in Ajegunle-Powerline in Akure North Local Government Area, while the perpetrators are yet to be apprehended.
