Abductors of four Ondo residents have contacted the families of the victims, demanding a sum of N50million before they will set them free.
The victims include a traditional chief, High Chief Mukaila Bello of Ikare Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government of the state.
Chief Bello was kidnapped on Thursday alongside Mr Adeniran Adeyemo, Mr Bashiru Adekile and Chief Gbafinro by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Ikare Expressway.
The bandits shot the driver of the vehicle in which the victims were traveling. He, however, escape abduction as he ran to safety.
“The bandits have contacted the families of the victims and demanded a huge sum of money, N50million, but the families are unable to raise the amount. The is the situation of things for now,” a source said.
The source also disclosed that the residents of Ikare-Akoko had resorted to inter-denominational prayers and fasting for the safe return of the kidnap victims.
A community leader and Jagunmolu of Ogbagi Akoko Group, Captain Lanre Adebambo (retd.), urged all the people Akoko community to synergise and collaborate to have a formidable security outfits that will make Akoko roads safe for travelers because of the position of Akokoland as gateway to Ondo State.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the police, the local hunters and vigilance groups were still searching the forest to rescue the victims.
“Our men and the local hunters and the vigilantes in the area are still in the bush to rescue the victims,” she said.