Gunmen Abduct 17 Travellers in Ondo, Police Launch Rescue Operations

Gunmen have kidnapped seven travellers along the Benin-Owo-Akure Road in the Ifon area of Ose Local Government, Ondo State. The victims were reportedly travelling from Akwa Ibom State to the South West when they were attacked and taken away by the assailants last Friday night.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami, stated, “The incident happened on January 31 at about some minutes to 12am in the night. Seven travellers were involved, they were coming from Akwa Ibom State in a commercial bus. Our men are already making efforts to rescue the victims from the kidnappers and arrest the perpetrators.”

In a related incident, a source disclosed that another group of gunmen abducted 10 travellers along the Owo-Ipele Road. “There were 10 of them (victims), they were kidnapped on the Owo-Ipele Road on Saturday morning at about 12am. Their vehicles were stopped and they were dragged into the bush to an unknown destination,” the source said.

Both incidents have raised fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in the state, with residents and commuters expressing fears about the growing frequency of attacks on highways. While security operatives have intensified efforts to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims, no official details have been released regarding possible ransom demands or the identities of those taken.