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Suspected kidnappers, again, struck in various parts of Ondo State at the weekend and abducted some secondary school students, a lecturer with the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), and three other persons.
The lecturer, Mr. Michael Olorunnisomo Olopete, works with the Marketing Department of the state-owned polytechnic.
The abduction of Olopete occurred less than a week after another worker with the institution, Mr. Taiwo Akinyemi, was killed by his abductors. Akinyemi’s corpse was discovered last week Sunday, and then buried on Thursday.
According to sources in the institution, Olopete was kidnapped at Ikare junction in Owo Local Government Area of the state. Olopete, a pastor with the Deeper Life Bible Ministry, was returning from the yearly three day retreat organised by the church when he was kidnapped. The lecturer was abducted in the presence of a church member. Already, the kidnappers have contacted the church, demanding N30 million ransom.
The students were abducted at Ilu Abo in Akure North Local Government. They were in a passenger bus when the kidnappers rushed into the road, shooting sporadically. The shooting forced many motorists to a halt. The kidnappers quickly surrounded the bus and dragged the students into the bush.
That was followed by sporadic gunshots which made passengers in other vehicles jump out and scamper in different directions. One of those that fled is Dr. Rahman Abubakar, a lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication, RUGIPO. While revealing his encounter with the kidnappers along Owo-Akure road, he stressed that the state was under siege.
He recounted: “I narrowly escaped being kidnapped as I was returning from a wedding ceremony at Omuo Ekiti. The incident happened just as we left Ilu Abo area, heading to Akure. I saw these guys shooting sporadically from a distance. Unfortunately, some kids and passengers were taken away by the kidnappers. A lecturer of the Department of Marketing, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, was kidnapped by the same Fulani herdsmen between Ipele and Owo Road. Another kidnapping took place at Oba Akoko.
Three persons were abducted and taken into the bush.” Abubakar, who expressed worries over the increasing rate of insecurity in the state, stated that the upsurge in kidnapping must be tackled by the police and government at all levels. Another traveller, Mrs. Nike Oyetade, who also escaped being kidnapped, alleged that the kidnappers used the forests near their operation points as detention camps. She claimed that students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions were no longer safe. A lecturer who escaped from the suspected kidnappers said several people fled at Ogbese/ Iluabo area on Owo-Akure road about 5:20p.m. on Saturday.
His words: “I narrowly escaped kidnapping after Ilu Abo on my way to Akure after a wedding ceremony I attended at Omuo Ekiti. “Nigerians are under siege. I saw these guys shooting sporadically from a distance. Unfortunately, some kids and those who were unlucky to get out of their vehicles were taken away by the kidnappers.”
It was learnt that three different cases of kidnapping and armed robbery were recorded on the route on Saturday’s evening specifically at Oba Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state where three persons fell victims of kidnappers on Friday’s night.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said that the Command was already on the trail of the kidnappers.
His words: “We have resolved to increase our manpower along our roads. There will be more patrols in order to reduce the activities of these criminals. I can assure you that justice will be done and the hunt is on for those behind these evil acts.”