SOJI AJIBOLA, Ibadan
Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped four persons along the dreaded Ibadan-Ijebu-ode road on Thursday.
The victims, who were traveling in Toyota brand cars, were waylaid and whisked away to an unknown destination.
However, it was learnt that one elderly man managed to escape from being kidnapped while the driver of the car was reportedly shot in the upper arm.
The kidnappers defied the heavy presence of the security operatives on the highway as they carried on with the operation which lasted for several minutes.
It will be recalled that Police Authority in the state mapped out security strategy to curb incessant attacks of road users and villagers but the gunmen took the security operatives by surprise with the recent operation.
It was learnt that police operatives at Idi Ayunre, led by the Divisional Police Officer, in collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups, had since stormed the forest in search of the kidnappers and their victims.
It was further gathered that the spared elderly man and the vehicle from which other occupants were abducted, had been taken to Idi Ayunre police station, while the injured man was helped in extracting the bullet lodged in his arm.
Narrating his experience, the injured man said that he was on his way to Ajah in Lagos State, and decided to pass through Ijebu Ode, to link Epe before getting to Ajah when he had an encounter with the kidnappers.
According to him, “I had left CRIN at Idi Ayunre and just passed Onipe when the abductors, about 30 in number, suddenly came out and started shooting.
“They were stopping vehicles and I got saved as I quickly turned, resulting in me losing control and making the car to skid off. I was told by those in my car not to stop. As I made to stop ahead, I saw another four of them emerging.
As I was in reverse gear, they quickly laid flat, so that I would not run over them, but still shooting. As I made to turn, because the car was swerving, they quickly got up, still shooting, and surrounded the car. They said’come down’. I had to beg them to stop but they continued shooting.
“They raised their guns and fired. Their bullets even penetrated the boot of the car and damaged the battery. I had to be carried from the spot with a motorcycle.”
He disclosed that he saw clearly as they attacked him and others that the kidnappers were herdsmen of Fulani extraction.
Also, he said that two suspects of the same origin, who were found within the premises beside the scene, had been arrested