Oyo: Panic As Gunmen Abduct Doctor

Gun-wielding hoodlums have stormed Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted a man identified simply as Dr Rasheed.

The man is said to have a private clinic where he treats patients from the communities in the area.

His abduction was said to have caused panic among residents and farmers in the area because the ‘doctor’ was kidnapped about 72 hours after the Supervisor of late Adebayo Alao-Akala’s farm in the area, Christopher Bakare, was released by his abductors.

Some persons told journalists that the gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the clinic at around 9pm on Friday and whisked him away while others said he was waylaid on the highway and was taken away by his captors.

The abduction was said to have been reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Orile Igbon and police were said to have swung into action.

One of the sources, who is a farmer told our correspondent in an interview that residents were now living in fear as a result of the incidents.

He said, “Kidnapping is now becoming a daily occurrence in the area and government security agencies should curb it quickly.

“Akala Farms’ supervisor was kidnapped last week and this one also happened just after the supervisor was released.

“How can farmers who work in the bush be going there now. Kidnappers have turned this place to their theatre of operations and government should come to our aid?”

However, some medical doctors in Ogbomoso told our correspondent that the victim is not a medical doctor but a quack who is running a private clinic in Gbede community which is the boundary of Oyo and Kwara states.

The Police Pubic Relations Officer in the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, when contacted, said an investigation had begun into the incident.

The PPRO while confirming the incident told our correspondent, “Investigation is in progress, update will be provided accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, has called on the people of the state to continue to maintain peace and keep praying for the same in the state.

Lawal, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, said this on Friday after the Jumat prayer at the Oja’ba Central Mosque, Ibadan.

He said, “This administration is for peace and there is no other way we can achieve that or continue to achieve that except by prayers. Nigeria is in turmoil – banditry, kidnapping and all sort of crimes. If you isolate Oyo State, you will discover that the crime rate here is at its lowest ebb and we want to maintain that.

“There is no other thing we can aspire to achieve if the security is not there. As Muslims, we must continue to pray for stability, peace and prosperity.”