Gunmen on Monday abducted yet-to-be identified passengers at Odo-Osun, near Imesi-Ile in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State.
An eyewitness account said an Ikirun, Osun State-bound commercial bus conveying passengers from Ekiti State was ambushed at Odo-Osun, on Ila Road. The ambush was around 1.45pm.
The gunmen took the passengers into the forest, according to The Nation.
A security source said the gunmen shot into the air to force the passenger bus to a stop.
The source said: “One person hinted the security about the Odo-Osun abduction and when we are on the search for the victims, we realised they have abducted some passengers from another two vehicles. The hostages were taken to the Ipanda village.
“They have reached out for ransom. Those who did it were speaking Fulfulde while the person negotiating the random spoke in Yoruba.”
Another source said volunteers of Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Hunter’s group and the police were already combing the bush to secure the release of the travellers.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the Imesi Police Station was in the search party.
The Director-General of Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, said volunteers of the socio-cultural group were on the trail of the abductors and their victims.
Osun State Police Command spokesman Yemisi Opalola she said: “I have not been briefed. I will get back to you on the matter,” when contacted on phone.
Amotekun Corps Commandant Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewinbi also said he was yet to be briefed.
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