Gunmen Kidnap Four Travelers In Ondo As Amotekun Foils Attempt To Smuggle Migrants To Southwest

By Ayodele Oni

Unknown gunmen again went on rampage in Akoko area of Ondo state shooting a driver and  whisked into the bush four persons.

This is just as the Amotekun security outfit botched an attempt to smuggle some over 100 persons suspected to be migrants from the north into southwest states.

Among those kidnapped on Thursday evening along Owo/Ikare highway are a traditional head of Iku quarters, the Oniku of Iku, in Ikare Akoko, chief Mukaila Bello and three other indigenes of the town.

They were abducted on Thursday evening along Ago Panu axis of Owo-Ikare road, while  traveling from Akure to Ikare.

The driver of the car was attacked and he is  now receiving treatment at an  undisclosed hospital in owo.

State Police Command  in a statement said “The Police on 4/8/2022 received a distress call that at about  6:30 pm  around Ago Yeye, along Owo/Ikare road,  gunmen shot at one  TOYOTA COROLLA CAR,  REG. NO. KAK 818 AE, while on motion.

“The bullet hit the driver on the head  and the vehicle came to a halt, the  other occupant numbering about 4 ( identities unknown) were whisked into the bush while the driver was abandoned.

“The police have recovered the vehicle while the driver was taken to the hospital.

“The driver is currently in a stable condition while  the police, local hunters and vigilante in the area are combing the bush for the  rescue of the victims and arrest of the assailants.”

Ondo State Security Network Agency code named “Amotekun Corps”, said it on Thursday, intercepted no fewer than 151 persons suspected to be illegal immigrants around Sango, Iju road in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State loaded in two trailers.

The agency explained that they were intercepted while the patrol team was on ‘stop and search’ at about 6:30 a:m. The raid foiled what could have led to serious security breaches in Southwest region by the suspected bandits.

Report said the trailers, which were on their way from Kastina, Kano and Jigawa states claimed  they was heading to South West states.

It was learnt that the 151 suspects including five women, were hidden at the back of bags beans and rice inside the trailers when Amotekun men intercepted them.

The Ondo state Commander of Amotekun,  Adetunji Adeleye explained that “We intercepted two trucks conveying 151 people who were cleverly concealed behind bags of rice and beans to such an extent, that you won’t know these number of people are tucked within the truck.

“Upon interception, we asked of their destination, some said Akure while others said Osogbo in Osun state. Although, we have not completed profiling them, as none of them has an idea of what they are going to do or their a mission.

“All they were able to tell us is that they entered the vehicle and came to Ondo State. While searching the vehicles, we saw 10 illegal bikes and various kind of dangerous charms.

“If we conclude our checking and we do not find anything on them as long as they don’t have anybody that is ready to take custody of them in Ondo state, we will send them back to their various states.

“Some of them claimed they are from Kastina, Kano and Jigawa states, but on how they came together, they said they couldn’t figure it out, but that the vehicles just came and picked them to Akure in Ondo State.

“While respecting their rights as Nigerians, yet, we are not sure of what they are here for, we still feel that while traveling, anyone should have a mission and a destination he or she is going to.”