By Ayodele Oni
While Muslim faithfuls celebrate Eid-el-Fitr residents of Akoko area of Ondo state are living in fears following abduction of two of them within 24 hours.
The incident, according to one of the residents, happened at Ikaram, Northwest area of Akoko where the two victims were abducted by unknown gunmen at two separate spots within the last 24 hours.
The Akala of Ikaram and the Chairman,Akoko Northwest Traditional Council, Oba Andrew Momodu, who confirmed the incidents, explained that the people now live in fear and anxiety due to the invasion of the area by hoodlums.
According to the Monarch, the first incident occurred along Okeagbe- Ikaram road involving one Ade Gbodi,a graduate, who was returning from his farm at Eda Ekiti.
Few kilometres away from his Iyoke Ikaram home, gunmen ambushed him and marched him into the forest .
“It was those coming behind that saw his motorbike where it was abandoned by the road side that came to report his abduction.”
He disclosed that already, his abductors have demanded for one million Naira ransome money.
In his account of the second incident, the Royal Father stated that it happened very close to the spot where some construction workers were kidnapped recently along Ikaram /Akunu road.
The two victims were on a motorcycle when yet to be identified gunmen fired a shot which hit one of them who was left in his pool of blood, while the second one was whisked away.
The abductors are yet to make contact with relations, while the wounded person is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital for gun shot wounds.
Oba Momodu disclosed that the case had been reported to okeagbe Divisional Police Headquarters, while the DPO, Mr Ade Akinwande, has swung into action in conjunction with local hunters and vigilante groups, combing the forest to rescue the victims.
He appealed to Government for massive recruitment of police and equip them with modern weapons.
The Traditional Ruler, who is a retired Navy Commodore, lamented the spate of kidnapping in the area, which has sent people away from farms saying famine and scarcity of food are imminent.
In a telephone chat, the regent of Akunu, Princess Tolani Orogun, appealed for deployment of motorized joint patrol of police, army, Civil Defence and vigilante members to reduce the menace of kidnapping and armed robberies in the area.
