Two farmers have been abducted by armed men in Parubber Community, located in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding ₦100 million before they will release the victims.
According to sources within the community, the victims were seized while working on their farms on Monday after gunmen stormed the area and forced them into a nearby forest.
One of the survivors, Pastor Yemi Omowale, who narrowly escaped the attack, said the matter has been reported to both the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.
Omowale, who owns a piggery in Parubber Community along the Ondo-Ife Road, said he and others had gone to the farm earlier in the day to feed their livestock when the attackers struck.
He explained that the incident occurred between noon and 1 p.m., adding that one of the armed men, whose face was covered and who carried an AK-47 rifle, approached one of the victims because the farmers were working at different spots.
The pastor disclosed that the abductors have since contacted the family of one of the captives, insisting on a ₦100 million ransom. He said the criminals have repeatedly called the victim’s wife to inquire about the amount of money she has been able to gather.
He appealed to security agencies and the state government to intervene swiftly and secure the safe release of the abducted farmers.
The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the abduction through its spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, who said the Oke-Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters received a report that the two farmers had disappeared.
Abayomi stated that a coordinated rescue operation involving police officers, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Amotekun operatives, local hunters and vigilante groups has been launched to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
He said security personnel are deploying intelligence and operational resources to locate the captives while working to arrest those responsible for the crime.
The police spokesperson urged residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information that could support the rescue mission through the nearest police station or other security agencies.
He assured the public that the command remains committed to ensuring the victims regain their freedom safely and that everyone involved in the kidnapping is brought to justice.
