A popular Islamic cleric in Ondo, Ibrahim Bodunde Oyinlade, has been abducted by suspected gunmen, Peoples Gazette just learnt. 

Mr Oyinlade, who is also the Chief Imam of Uso Community, was kidnapped and taken into the bush by gunmen, on Saturday evening. 

Uso is a suburb of Akure and a few metres from Owo, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s hometown. 

The Gazette learnt that the Islamic cleric was abducted on his farm by gun-wielding men numbering about four. 

“He was on his farm at Asolo camp when the armed men swapped on him at gunpoint and took him away,” a source who pleaded not to be named told our reporter in a brief chat. 

The source could not immediately confirm if the abductors had contacted the family for negotiation for his release. 

However, The Gazette gathered that some local hunters have begun to comb the bushes in the area to rescue the cleric. 

It was also learnt that other Islamic clerics in the mosque have gone spiritual for the safe release of the victim. 

Police spokesperson in Ondo, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the abduction of the 67-year-old, Islamic cleric to The Gazette in a telephone chat on Saturday night. 

Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya said the report of the abduction of Mr Oyinlade was reported at the Divisional Police headquarters in the Uso community Saturday evening. .

“At about 6 pm today (Saturday) a report was made at Uso Divisional headquarters that the Chief Imam of Us went to his farm in the morning and did not return. 

“He was later traced to the farm by his people and they saw his phone and his vehicle intact but could not find him.”  

She added that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station and his men are already with local vigilantes and currently in the bush to trace the whereabouts of the victim.

The abduction of the popular cleric comes barely a week after suspected gunmen abducted 16 passengers from a commercial bus in Ose LGA of Ondo.

The victims were later rescued by the combined efforts of the police, army, and Amotekun corps.