Some men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have stormed an Ondo State community, kidnapping a man and making huge demands for ransom.
Fulani herdsmen
Four persons suspected to be herdsmen have allegedly abducted a middle aged businessman identified as Oyewale Akinwande at Idoani in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, The Sun News reports.
The victim popularly called Honourable was reportedly kidnapped at his sawmill located in the town.
Sources said the gunmen operating along Ipele-Idoani road were armed with machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons when they laumched the kidnap operation.
The abductors were said to be masked and came into the Saw mill through the forest in the morning when many people were yet to get to the area for work.
According to a community leader in the town, Mr Oladele Olapeju, Idoani town has been thrown into confusion as a result of the tragic incident.
He appealed to security agents to ensure that the victim is released in no distant time.
Olapeju said the victim was seized while switching on the generator, and that the suspected herdsmen shot into the air to scare away workers and others around before dragging him out of the sawmill premises.
The community leader lamented that the Fulani herdsmen have taken over the farmland in the community, stressing that his over 30 hectares farm crops were destroyed by cattle grazing on farms.
He urged security agents to curb the incessant invasion of the area by Fulani herdsmen and ensure the safe release of the victim.
It was learnt that the kidnappers had demanded a N5m ransom as condition for the release of the captive.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Femi Joseph called for calm, saying police are already on the trail of the abductors.
While assuring the people of the state a hitch-free yelutide season, Joseph said the kidnappers would be arrested and prosecuted.