By Ayodele Oni
Gunmen numbering seven forced their way into a private residence in Ekiti state and abducted eight persons Tuesday night.
The incident happened at Itapaji, in Ikole local government.
The abductors, early Wednesday, were said to have contacted the family and demanded for a sum of N50 million as ransom.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen, had laid siege on the house around 9.30pm and started shooting sporadically into the air before they made away with eight occupants of the building.
The gunshots that lasted for over one hour scared other residents of the community, who locked themselves in.
Some of those abducted were family members, preparing for the burial of their mother due to hold this weekend.
“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 while being led by the abductors.
“Early today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors and demanded for a ransom of N50m.”
Security situation in the area has been porous due to lack of police stations in Itapaji -Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako axes.
The nearest police station is at Ikole Ekiti, which is over 40 minutes drive to the troubled spots.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident,
adding that “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 abductors.”
