Mr. Odimayo, popularly called "Londoner," was kidnapped from his community early on Thursday morning by armed men numbering about seven.
Armed kidnappers abducted an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Olumide Odimayo, in Lgbotu, Ese Odo Local Government Area, Ondo State on Thursday.
Mr. Odimayo, popularly called "Londoner," was kidnapped from his community early on Thursday morning by armed men numbering about seven.
The politician unsuccessfully sought the APC ticket for his constituency’s House of Assembly seat in 2015.
An impeccable source confirmed the news to SaharaReporters via a text message.
According to the source, the gunmen entered the community through the bush and whisked away the chieftain. He added that they shot into the air to prevent people from foiling the abduction.
"Mr. Odimayo was kidnapped around 6 a.m. today (Thursday) at Igbotu by heavily armed men. Some youths, who got wind of his kidnap, informed local vigilantes in the community and they ran after the kidnappers, shooting one of them to death," the source said.
A police source in the community also confirmed the abduction of the APC chieftain to our correspondent. The policeman, who pleaded anonymity, said some officers have been handed the responsibility of rescuing the victim.
"We have deployed some of our men to search the bush for the rescue of the politician. I was just informed not too long ago that one of the kidnappers was gunned down while trying to escape," the police officer said.
SaharaReporters' efforts to reach the Ondo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Femi Joseph, were unsuccessful, as his official mobile line did not connect. Efforts to contact Mr. Odimayo's family members' reaction also proved abortive.
