33 travelers in Coastal Buses kidnapped in Ondo, Ekiti abductors demand N30m

33 travelers in Coastal Buses kidnapped in Ondo, Ekiti abductors demand N30m

By Samson Adekunle

No fewer than 33 travelers were at the weekend abducted by suspected Fulani armed men in the Ifon area of Ondo State.

Irohinoodua was informed that the incidence took place in the evening of Saturday. The commuters were travelling in  coaster buses from Ondo State to Benin when armed men stopped the two buses in Ifon, Ose Local Government area. Ifon is an historic town in the area whose traditional ruler, Oba Israel Adewusi was killed in November 2020 by suspected Fulani armed men.

Sources said those kidnapped included married women and children. A reliable source in Ifon said the abductors filed the wailing victims into the forest.

The exact number of the victims was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, was quoted to have said that one of the victims was rescued but another source said the victim actually escaped.

Meanwhile, abductors of three people in Ekiti State have demanded for N30m from affected families. Osanona Oduntan, a relative of one of the victims said the armed Fulani men who abducted three men between Oke-Ako and Irele are demanding for N30m. He said the criminals contacted the family on Sunday demanding for N30m. The kidnappers had killed a member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corpos, (NSCDC), Mr Segun Ajibulu who hails from Ogbe in Kogi state but was raised in Oke-Ako Ekiti where his family live.

Chief Abejide Kehinde, the Akogun of Irele-Ekiti State Ekamefa community which comprises Itapaji, Iyemero, Ijowa, Oke-Ako, Ipao and Irele all in Ajoni Local Government area is under siege. He called on the State Government to ensure meaningful security presence. At present, there is no single police station in at least five of the six communities. Chief Kehinde said attacks on the communities have become so frequent that residents expect people to be kidnapped almost every week

travelers in Coastal Buss kidnapped in Ondo, Ekiti abductors demand N30m

By Samson Adekunle

No fewer than 33 travelers were at the weekend abducted by suspected Fulani armed men in the Ifon area of Ondo State.

Irohinoodua was informed that the incidence took place in the evening of Saturday. The commuters were travelling in  coaster buses from Ondo State to Benin when armed men stopped the two buses in Ifon, Ose Local Government area. Ifon is an historic town in the area whose traditional ruler, Oba Israel Adewusi was killed in November 2020 by suspected Fulani armed men.

Sources said those kidnapped included married women and children. A reliable source in Ifon said the abductors filed the wailing victims into the forest.

The exact number of the victims was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, was quoted to have said that one of the victims was rescued but another source said the victim actually escaped.

Meanwhile, abductors of three people in Ekiti State have demanded for N30m from affected families. Osanona Oduntan, a relative of one of the victims said the armed Fulani men who abducted three men between Oke-Ako and Irele are demanding for N30m. He said the criminals contacted the family on Sunday demanding for N30m. The kidnappers had killed a member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corpos, (NSCDC), Mr Segun Ajibulu who hails from Ogbe in Kogi state but was raised in Oke-Ako Ekiti where his family live.

Chief Abejide Kehinde, the Akogun of Irele-Ekiti State Ekamefa community which comprises Itapaji, Iyemero, Ijowa, Oke-Ako, Ipao and Irele all in Ajoni Local Government area is under siege. He called on the State Government to ensure meaningful security presence. At present, there is no single police station in at least five of the six communities. Chief Kehinde said attacks on the communities have become so frequent that residents expect people to be kidnapped almost every week