Two Ondo Farmers Abducted As Police Launch Rescue Mission

Two farmers have been abducted by suspected gunmen along the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest corridor in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, prompting a joint security operation to rescue the victims.

A relative of the victims disclosed the incident during a live radio programme in Akure on Tuesday, saying the abduction occurred on Saturday and had been reported to both the police and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.

The family alleged that the kidnappers had contacted them and were demanding a ransom of N10 million before the victims could regain their freedom.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command received a report of missing persons at the Isua Akoko Divisional Police Headquarters.

Jimoh, however, stated that the police had no official information indicating that the abductors had demanded any ransom from the victims’ relatives.

He explained that a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers had been mobilised to comb the forest and rescue the victims.

“The Ondo State Police Command can confirm that a report of missing persons was received at the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Jimoh said.

He urged residents with credible information that could aid the rescue mission to promptly report to the police, assuring that the command remained committed to ensuring the safe return of the abducted farmers and apprehending those responsible.