Unknown gunmen who abducted two farmers in Parubber Community, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million for their release.
The victims were reportedly working on their farms when the armed men invaded the area, overpowered them and went away with them into the forest.
One of the farmers, Yemi Omowale, who narrowly escaped the attack, recounted the ordeal, explaining that he and the victims were feeding animals on the farm when the gunmen struck.
Omowale said he first noticed a masked man carrying an AK-47 rifle approaching one of the victims, identified as Adetan Adebanjo Gbemi.
“Because we were not standing together, I saw him first. The attacker was masked and carrying an AK-47. Before I could raise an alarm, he had already moved toward Gbemi, and others emerged from different directions,” Omowale said.
Omowale managed to escape during the attack but said the kidnappers also seized another farmer, a woman whose identity has yet to be disclosed publicly.
He revealed that the abductors have since contacted the wife of one of the victims and are demanding N100 million as ransom for the release of the two farmers.
“They still call the wife of the victim, asking her how much she has raised so far,” Omowale said. “We are begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brother and sister unharmed.”
The survivor confirmed that the incident has been reported to both the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that a report of missing persons had been received at the Oke-Igbo Divisional Headquarters.
Abayomi disclosed that a joint security team comprising police operatives, including members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, local hunters and vigilante groups, was immediately deployed to the area.
“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.
The police spokesperson assured residents that efforts to rescue the victims were being intensified and appealed to members of the public to remain calm while providing useful information that could aid the operation.
