Police confirm kidnapping of travelers on Akure-Ikere highway

Gunmen suspected of being kidnappers have reportedly kidnapped an unspecified number of travelers at the border of Ondo and Ekiti states.

The gunmen were said to have ambushed passengers between Ikere-Ekiti and Iju in Ondo State.

Two vehicles were found at the scene of the incident, a Toyota Corolla and a white Highlander, in which no one was traveling and were riddled with bullets.

It was learned that the passengers could have been taken to the forest around Iju.

A source said the incident occurred Thursday night, but came to light Friday morning when the bullet-riddled vehicles were discovered.

He said the incident had been reported to the police. Police later visited the scene of the incident.

Reacting to the development, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olufunmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident but said the command could not confirm the number of people involved.

Mrs Odunlami revealed that men from the command’s anti-kidnapping section swung into action soon after the report and have been combing the forest ever since.

However, he noted that there has been no official report from the family(s) of the owners of the two vehicles, nor has there been any report of missing persons in the state.

Mrs. Odunlami assured that the police will soon discover what happened and rescue the victims if it is a case of kidnapping.