Gunmen abduct Ondo resident from farm in daylight

By Boye Oyeyemi

Tension heightened on Monday in Imafon community, Akure North LGA of Ondo State, after suspected gunmen abducted a farm manager, Afolabi Ajayi, in a daring daytime operation.

The incident reportedly occurred around 10:30 a.m. when the victim arrived at a poultry farm to oversee activities before he was accosted by the assailants.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen suddenly emerged from a nearby bush shortly after Ajayi stepped out of his vehicle and forcefully dragged him into the forest.

A family source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the abduction had thrown relatives and workers into confusion, adding that the kidnappers were yet to contact the family.

“He had only just arrived at the farm to supervise ongoing work when the attackers appeared and whisked him away into the bush,” the source said.

Security operatives were said to have been alerted immediately after the incident, prompting a response from the police.

Confirming the development, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command had deployed tactical teams to the area to rescue the victim and apprehend the culprits, noting that, “The command has been notified of a kidnapping incident at Ilado, and have deployed a tactical team to comb the surrounding forest to ensure the victim’s safe rescue and arrest of the perpetrators.”

The command further assured the public that every necessary step is being taken, with priority placed on the victim’s safety.