Suspected gunmen have abducted three residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, Peoples Gazette can report.

The victims were kidnapped in the Isinigbo-Odegede area of Igoba in Akure North Local Council Area of Ondo, on Thursday night.

The community is a few distance away from Police Secondary School, in the suburb of Akure.

A resident of the community, who does not want their name published, confirmed the abduction on Friday evening.

“The armed men stormed the street last night and took away the residents (victims).

“In fact, what baffles me is that they even announced their arrival. One of the kidnapped residents, Mr Paul, used to stay close to my place,” The Gazette was told.

He added that the gunmen had initially abducted four residents but one of them escaped while being taken away.

“It was the one who escaped that quickly alerted other residents in the community. So, three of them were kidnapped.”

A traditional ruler of the community, Adinlewa Adeniyi, also confirmed the incident to The Gazette in a chat.

Mr Adeniyi, however, pleaded with the security agents to rescue the kidnapped victims.

“Please, help us appeal to the state government and the security agencies to beef up security in our community,” the local monarch added.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the police in Ondo could not be immediately reached for comments.

But an operative of the Amotekun Corps hinted to our reporter that security agents are already trailing the suspect.

He said the suspects have been located inside a bush where they kept their victims.