Gunmen Abduct Eight Persons In Ekiti, Demand N50million Ransom

No fewer than eight persons were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday at Itapaji in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Daily Post reports.
The incident happened on the heels of abduction of four persons by gunmen at Ayebode, a week ago in the same council area.

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The abductors were said to have contacted the family early on Wednesday and demanded the sum of N50million as ransom.
An eyewitness told journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, that the gunmen had besieged a house located in the town around 9.30pm, shooting sporadically into the air and afterwards made away with eight occupants of the building.
The gunshots that lasted for over one hour were said to have terrified the residents of the community.
The source said the owner of the building was preparing for his mother’s burial and the preparations were said to have been on top gear when the assailants struck.
“The men numbering seven came around 9.30pm with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically.
“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down. They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush."
He added further, “Earlier today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors demanding for a ransom of N50million”, he said.
The source added that the absence of police stations in Itapaji -Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako axis was responsible for the worsening cases of kidnapping in the area, saying the nearest police station was in Ikole Ekiti, which was over 40 minutes’ drive to the troubled areas.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident.
Abutu said, “The command is working on that. Already, a special police operatives as well as the JTF have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits."