By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi

Tension is mounting among residents and travellers using Akure Airport following the abduction of three individuals by unknown gunmen in the Oba Ile area of Akure North Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The victims, identified as students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, who were undergoing Industrial Training (IT) on a farm, were kidnapped on Saturday evening while returning from their workplace near Akure Airport.

The incident was confirmed by Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, the commander of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun Corps.

According to him, security operatives have been deployed to rescue the victims.

“I can confirm to you that we are on top of the situation. Our men have been deployed to rescue them from the kidnappers’ den,” Adeleye stated.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, also corroborated the incident, adding that anti-kidnapping units had been dispatched to the area.

Meanwhile, the abductors are reportedly demanding a ransom of N15 million from the victims’ families.

A family source disclosed that the kidnappers had already contacted them.

Reacting to the incident, a resident of Akure, Mr Adepegba Oluremi, said concerns are constantly been raised over the capacity of security agencies in Ondo State to tackle kidnapping and killing of farmers effectively.

He stated that obviously many of the security agencies lack access to modern equipment to confront the challenge.

Oluremi used the opportunity to appeal to the state government to provide advanced security tools to combat the rising wave of kidnappings.