Suspected gunmen have kidnapped two farmers in Ifira, a farming community in the Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The victims were reportedly attacked while on their way to their farms before being taken into a nearby forest by the assailants.
A relative of one of the victims said the abduction has been reported to the police and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.
The relative added that the kidnappers have contacted the families and are demanding a ransom of N10 million for the release of the two farmers.
One of the relatives pleaded for urgent intervention.
“We’ve reported the incident to the police and the Amotekun Corps in our area. We’re begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brothers unharmed,” the family member said.
Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that a report of missing persons had been received at the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters.
He said a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers had been deployed to the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest axis to search for the victims.
“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.
The police spokesperson, however, noted that the command was not aware of any ransom demand in connection with the incident.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any ransom demand in connection with this incident,” he added.
Abayomi appealed to members of the public with credible information to assist the ongoing rescue efforts, assuring that all information received would be treated confidentially.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible, while urging residents to remain calm, vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.
(The Sun)