From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a 24-year-old Emmanuel Ayodeji, son of a poultry farmer, at Oke-Odan community in Apete area of Ibadan, the state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who confirmed the abduction, said the victim was kidnapped on February 22, at about 6p.m when gunmen invaded a poultry farm at Oke-Odan.
The abduction came barely two days after unknown gunmen stormed a cow settlement at Alafara community at Ologuneru area of Ibadan and fired some cows. At about 7:20am. But the police did not give figures of the cows that were killed or injured.
Governor Seyi Makinde has promised to compensate owners of the cows and at the same time, ordered that Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, to take charge of the treatment of injured people.
The spokesperson stated that the gunmen fired some shots into the air before abducting one Ayodeji, adding that “Immediately the Divisional Police Officer of Apete got wind of the incident, she led police patrol teams to the scene, along with some local hunters and vigilantes to comb the far and near bushes with a view of arresting the hoodlums and equally secure release of the abductee.
“It was worthy to note that concerted efforts has been intensified by police tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command, who commenced investigation immediately and also on the trail of the hoodlums.”
Fadeyi, however, urged members of the public to partner with the police by providing useful information that could lead to “the arrest of criminal elements, who are carrying out this heinous crime in the state.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko, has assured “the good people of Oyo State of the police’s preparedness at all times to confront the hoodlums, who are bent on wreaking havoc in the state, while soliciting unflinching supports of the general public not to allow criminal elements have a place to hibernate among them, to enable all and sundry move about in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.”