Suspected gunmen have kidnapped two farmers in Ifira, a farming community in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Sources said the attackers stopped the victims while they were heading to their farm before taking them into a nearby forest.
A relative of one of the victims said the case had been reported to the police and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.
The source said the kidnappers had contacted the families and were demanding N10 million before releasing the two farmers.
One of the family members appealed for immediate help.
“We’ve reported the incident to the police and the Amotekun Corps in our area. We’re begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brothers unharmed,” the family member said.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters received a report that the two farmers were missing.
He explained that a joint security team made up of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers had been sent to the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest area to look for the victims.
“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.
The police spokesperson, however, said the command had no information about any ransom demand linked to the case.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any ransom demand in connection with this incident,” he added.
Abayomi also urged anyone with useful information to support the ongoing rescue operation, assuring residents that any information shared would be kept confidential.
He restated the command’s commitment to rescuing the victims safely and arresting those behind the kidnapping, while urging residents to remain calm, stay alert and continue giving the police timely and credible information.
