The police command in Oyo has assured residents of Ilero Town in Kajola LGA of the release of the two persons abducted on Wednesday.

Police commissioner Johnson Adenola gave the promise on Monday while addressing youths and traditional leaders from the Kajola and Iwajowa communities.

The police boss also disclosed that the command had arrested some suspects allegedly involved in the gruesome killing of a farmer at a farm settlement in the town on Thursday.

The two female adults were kidnapped at an agro-products shop in Ilero Town while on duty.

Mr Adenola noted that the meeting was held to consult and mediate among critical stakeholders in the zone. He, particularly, urged the youths to shelve their planned protest to avoid it being hijacked by criminals.

“We are working hard and hope that the two victims will regain their freedom soon; we have arrested some suspects, and we are getting close to the kidnappers.

“Protests will not solve the problem; the best thing to do is to come together and share information that will give us a quick solution. The command has also deployed additional officers from the anti-kidnapping and monitoring units to the town to strengthen security in the affected areas.

“We have about 11 suspects in custody in connection with the attacks; seven of them were arrested for alleged involvement in kidnapping, while four persons were arrested for alleged involvement in murder. We are still looking for others, and hopefully, we will soon get them,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of synergy among police, local vigilante groups and other security agents to achieve maximum security in the zone.

The Elero of Ilero land, Oba Wasiu Oyedele, said that the town had been enjoying relative peace in the past few months until the recent attacks.

The traditional ruler condemned the incessant attacks on farmers and the destruction of crops by suspected herders.

According to him, the natives are very accommodating to all tribes and would want all foreigners in the town to embrace peace.

The Seriki Fulani in the zone, Muhamud Yusuf, alleged that many of the attacks were perpetrated by strange herders and other criminals not residing in the host communities.

He expressed the readiness of herders and other foreigners in the town to work with the police and local vigilante groups to flush out the criminals.

The forum also featured special fact-finding sessions with representatives of the Miyetti Allah group, farmers’ associations, youths, and community leaders.

(NAN)