Gunmen numbering six on Saturday night stormed Olla town, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State and abducted one Olujala Adegboja, a farm manager on his way back from his farm.
The victim was driving a white Toyota Hilux when the kidnappers ambushed and whisked him away to an unknown destination inside the forest.
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Residents told Daily Trust that the victim, popularly called Oni-Jay, 56, is a brother to both the traditional ruler of the town and a PDP chieftain, Hon Olutola Onijala, a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source conversant with the matter said the victim initially resisted the attempt to kidnap him but was later overpowered by the gunmen who inflicted machete cuts on him while shooting to scare away some people that were present during the operation.
“The kidnappers operated freely during the operation which lasted for several minutes.
“The abandoned Toyota Hilux was heavily stained by the blood of Oni-Jay who initially tried to resist them,” the source added.
It was gathered that the community have since been thrown into panic, especially over the state of health of the victim.
However, the abductors have reportedly contacted the Onijala’s family, demanding N200m ransom to release him.
Similarly, seven armed men stormed a pure water factory in Sosoki, Alapa area of Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State on Saturday.
Eight of the workers, including the factory owner, Hajia Fatima Nurudeen, were abducted in the process.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara State, Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the two cases, said: “Effort by a combined team of policemen, vigilante and hunters are still ongoing to liberate the victim and possibly arrest the abductors in the Isin incident.
“As regards the Asa incident, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Tuesday Assayomo, has immediately unleashed the Command’s tactical teams with the local hunters and vigilante to the area to rescue the victims and arrest the hoodlums.
“The efforts however resulted in the rescue of seven out of the eight abducted workers.
“The command is getting close to rescuing the remaining victim who happens to be the owner of the factory and possible arrest of the kidnappers,” he added.