Suspected terrorists have abducted 10 residents in communities within Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, raising fresh concerns about insecurity in the region.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped during coordinated attacks on Ahun, Oro-Ago and Oyate communities in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to reports, six persons were abducted in Ahun, while four others were taken from Oro-Ago and Oyate.
One of the victims, Clement Emmanuel, a sawmill operator, was reportedly seized alongside his apprentice, Solomon, while cutting trees on a farm in Ahun village.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Emmanuel’s wife said the kidnappers had already contacted her and demanded a ransom of N10 million for his release.
“Please oga reporter, help plead with them to release my husband sir. Where will I get the N10m they asked for?” she lamented during a phone interview.
Sources also revealed that two other victims, identified as Adewole and Adebayo, were abducted while preparing to burn felled trees to produce charcoal.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekimi Ojo, said he had not yet been officially briefed on the kidnapping incidents.
However, he disclosed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force recently conducted a coordinated intelligence-led operation in Oro-Ago following intercepted communications about plans by a suspected kidnapping syndicate to infiltrate the area.
According to him, the operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including a mechanic and a logistics operative allegedly supplying fuel and other support to the criminal network.
Police also recovered 10 Bajaj Boxer motorcycle motorcycles believed to be used by the suspects for kidnapping and banditry operations.
In a separate development, the police command also arrested a 23-year-old suspected female kidnapper, Awawu Maliki Bodo, who was allegedly found in possession of a revolver and three live cartridges.
