Gunmen abduct two Chinese, couple, three children in Osun, Ondo
Osun residents blame Oyetola for kidnapping linked to illegal mining
By Kunle Oluyede
Armed men have seized two Chinese men in Osun State. They were kidnapped and taken away from Okepa-Itikan village located near Ifewara in Osun State. The incidence happened on Tuesday.
The abductors shot two guards.attached to the two Chinese men names given as Zhao Jian, 33 and 50 year old Wen whose surname was not made available.
In a related development, a couple and their three children have been kidnapped on Ondo State.
In Ajowa Akoko five people being a couple and their three children were kidnapped in the community. They were seized on their way from Ajowa where they had gone to celebrate Easter. They were on their way to Abuja where the couple worked.
Relating to the Osun State kidnapping, the Police Spokesperson, Wale Opalola said ‘On April 5, 2021 around 4pm, a gang of criminals attacked and abducted two Chinese nationals namely, Zhao Jian, 33 and Wen, 50 at Okepa-Itikan village, the gold mining site in Ifewara Osun State. Two of the private guards were also shot at and have been taken to the general hospital for treatment.’
A native of Ifewara who does not wish to be named blamed the State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola for the attacks. He said ‘We have a sleeping governor here. He does not care about what happens around him. He watched how Zamfara State Governor addressed the issue of illegal gold mining in his state. Here, it is free market. He does not care simply because some of those involved in the illegal mining are his cronies.
Since Zamafara addressed their own problem, the illegal miners from the North have invaded our land. The Governor does not care’, he said. However, Opalola said the State Commissioner for Police, (CP) has drafted operatives to fish out the kidnappers.
He said the CP has drafted ‘a strong combined reinforcement of police tactical units, the JTF, and other security outfits, which have embarked on search-and-rescue operation for the two abducted Chinese persons and possible arrest of all the fleeing criminals.’