Gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped Ayodele Ajayi, former provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, near Abeokuta in the Odeda LGA in Ogun.

Mr Ajayi was kidnapped with his wife and driver after 7:00 p.m. at Ikija village in the Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road.

The kidnappers later released Mr Ajayi’s wife while the ex-provost and his driver were held hostage.

The gunmen came out of a bush to attack Mr Ajayi and other motorists along the road and shot sporadically into the air, blocked the road and whisked away their victims.

A source lamented that no fewer than five people had been kidnapped in the area in the last week.

“Just yesterday (Monday), the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released. Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis,” said the source. “The Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunisola, was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and is still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta.”

The source added, “We need help. This is getting too much. Our people are no longer safe. We need the government’s intervention and the security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities.”

Police spokesman Omolola Odutola in Abeokuta confirmed the kidnapping, saying security operatives are on the kidnappers’ trail. She added that they received a distress call and a direct message from a staff of FCE Osiele stating that Mr Ajayi had been kidnapped.

The police officer assured that the victims would be rescued as police commissioner Alamutu Abiodun ordered a joint operation of all security agencies.

”He has asked them all to start combing the bush and all the surrounding areas in a bid to find them. But there is no cause for more panic. The CP has deployed operational teams and detectives of the Ogun police command to go after the yet-to-be-identified gunmen,” the police spokesperson explained.

The officer added, “They will be rescued, as assured by the CP, because all the security agencies are on a joint operation combing the bush. Several operatives of the Police, as well as those of Amotekun, vigilance groups and hunters, have been mobilised into the forest on strict order to apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims alive.” 

(NAN)