Gunmen abduct Ondo travellers, four others escape

According to reports, a group of gunmen has abducted several travellers along the Irun/Imesi Ekiti Road in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The incident occurred on Saturday around 6 pm when the victims were travelling in an 18-seater bus. The attackers ambushed the bus, forcefully took the victims into the bush, and their current location remains unknown.

While the exact number of victims is yet to be confirmed, it has been verified that they were occupants of a commercial bus. Following the incident, the police, soldiers, and the Amotekun corps from Ondo and Ekiti states, along with local vigilantes, have launched a joint operation to comb the forests and rescue the victims.

Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the state commander of the Amotekun corps, confirmed the incident and stated that their teams were already in pursuit of the criminals. He expressed confidence that with their efforts, the remaining victims would be rescued unharmed. Adeleye mentioned that not all 18 passengers in the bus were kidnapped, as some managed to escape during the attack.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, also confirmed the incident and stated that four of the victims had escaped from the scene. She mentioned that the police had deployed a search team to the area to locate and rescue the remaining victims.