TheCable

Gunmen, on Tuesday, abducted Ayodele Ajayi, the immediate-past provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele near Abeokuta in Odeda LGA of Ogun state.

Ajayi was reportedly abducted with his wife and driver around 7pm at Ikija village in the Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road.

His wife was later released by the abductors.

According to NAN, a resident of the area said the gunmen came out of the bush to attack Ajayi and other motorists along the road.

The source reportedly said the gunmen, after shooting into the air, blocked the road and took their victims away.

“Just yesterday (Monday), the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released,” the resident was quoted as saying.

“Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis.

“The Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunisola, was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and is still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta.

“We need help, this is getting too much. Our people are no longer safe, we need government’s intervention and the security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities.”

Omolola Odutola, the police public relations officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident, saying security operatives are on the abductors’ trail.

She added that the command received a distress call and a direct message from a staff of FCE Osiele saying that Ajayi had been kidnapped.

Odutola assured that the victims would be rescued, as the commissioner of police has ordered a joint operation of all security agencies.

“He has asked them all to start combing the bush and all the surrounding areas in a bid to find them,” she said.

“But there is no cause for more panic. The CP has deployed operational teams and detectives of the Ogun police command to go after the yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

“They will be rescued as assured by the CP because all the security agencies are on a joint operation, combing the bush.

“Several operatives of the police, as well as those of Amotekun, vigilance groups and hunters have been mobilised into the forest on strict order to apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims alive.”