A traditional chief in Osun State and head of local hunters in Ibokun, Obokun local government, Chief Laleye Dusin Amusat, has been kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.
Chief Amusat, who is the Tirimi (chief hunter) of Ibokunland, was kidnapped between Esa-Odo and Ilare at about 10pm on Monday evening when he was coming from a party in company of a lady, Mrs Tayo George and another man, Mr Olusegun Oladipupo.
Oladipupo eventually escaped from the kidnappers, who took away Amusa and Tayo.
Speaking with Eko Trust, Oladipupo said the kidnappers wore military camouflage and that he noticed they were Fulani.
According to him, “They stopped the car and ordered us to get down. They told the three of us to kneel down. The kidnappers were many, about 15. They carried guns and they had cutlasses. Their focus was on the chief hunter. I just decided to run away and I took off. The lady followed me but she was recaptured, while I escaped.”
A member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Obokun constituency, Bosun Oyintiloye, said the state government was fully aware of the development and that security agencies were on top of the situation.
At the time of filing this report, our correspondent learnt from very reliable sources that the kidnappers had contacted the relatives of Chief Amusat and demanded N50 million for the release of the 50-year-old hunter.
The spokesman of Ilare community, Mr Tope Abiola, described the incident as “worrisome” and urged the Osun State government and security agencies to address the ugly trend of kidnapping in the state.
Abiola said over 100 local hunters had been deployed to comb all the areas where the chief hunter was kidnapped but had, so far, not been able to find him.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun State Police Command, Mrs Folashade Odoro, said rescue efforts were ongoing and assured that the chief hunter and the other woman would be rescued.
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