By Adegbaju Temitope
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two persons during a kidnapping incident that occurred on Monday at a poultry farm along Kajola Road in Ilu-Abo.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the police spokesman, preliminary information available to the command indicates that three armed men, who were masked and suspected to have emerged from a nearby bush, invaded the poultry farm and abducted two individuals identified as Joseph Kayode and Esther Akinlolu.
Jimoh said the assailants reportedly fired sporadically into the air before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.
He explained that upon receiving the report of the incident, the command immediately deployed tactical teams and detectives to the area to commence search and rescue operations.
“The command immediately mobilised tactical teams and detectives to the affected area to commence search and rescue operations, as well as intensify security patrols to prevent further occurrences,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, has directed that all available operational and intelligence resources be deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible for the crime.
Jimoh added that security operatives, in collaboration with non-conventional security outfits, are currently combing nearby forests and surrounding communities in efforts to track down the perpetrators.
The police command acknowledged the concern the incident has generated among residents, particularly parents and school authorities, which reportedly led to the temporary closure of some schools in the area.
However, the command urged members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information that could create unnecessary panic.
The police also appealed to parents, guardians and community leaders to support ongoing operations by providing credible and actionable information that could aid security agencies.
Jimoh reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
