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| Ekiti Amotekun Commander, Joe Komolafe |
Four travellers were taken hostage by unidentified gunmen along the Irele Ekiti-Oke Ako Highway in the Ekiti local council development area of Ajoni.
The most recent kidnapping is one of several on the roadway, some of which resulted in deaths.
After attending an event in Kogi the previous weekend, the victims were reportedly on their way back to Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, when they were abducted around midday on Sunday, according to local sources in the community.
On the road between Irele-Ekiti and Oke Ako, they allegedly got lost after being waylaid by armed attackers who took their victims into the forest.
According to a dependable source, the four abducted people were travelling along the Irele Ekiti and Oke Ako Road to Ibadan after attending an event in Kogi.
“We have not heard anything from the gunmen since yesterday (Sunday), and we are hoping they will get in touch with their families, possibly for ransom.”
Confirming the incident, a community leader in Irele-Ekiti, Kehinde Abejide, condemned the abduction, saying incessant attacks by gunmen in the area, were becoming worrisome.
He called on the new administration in the State to beef up security in the axis. Mr Abejide urged the new governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to partner with the military to help in fighting the menace in the state.
“These four people were returning to Ibadan when they were attacked and kidnapped on Sunday morning and we have not heard anything since they were taken into the forest.
“We have been crying and pleading with the government to help us in this area, but it appears nothing is happening, especially when you consider the recurring incidents in the community.
“Though we have in the past made local arrangements here relating to security, it can never be enough to confront these people.
“Let me call on the governor of Ekiti to do something urgently on insecurity before our people in the entire communities in Ajoni LCDA are wiped out,” he said.
“There is the need for a military post between Irele and Oke Ako, which will help to forestall any possible attack by these gunmen because it appears they are taking advantage of the poor security arrangements here.”
When contacted, Sunday Abutu, spokesman for the Police Command in Ekiti, who confirmed the incident, said he would brief the media as soon as details about the incident reached his office.
Also, the State Commander of Amotekun, Joe Komolafe, confirmed the incident, adding that operatives of the corps were combing the forest in the area toward rescuing the victims alive.
(NAN)