Insecurity: Gunmen Abduct Three Female Traders, Driver In Ogun State

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Three female traders and their driver have been abducted by gunmen at Olubo Village on Abeokuta-Imala-Ilara-Ayetoro Road, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that the four persons were abducted on Tuesday night around 8pm at Olubo village while they were returning from Ilara market in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state.

They were travelling in a Toyota Avensis Commercial SUV with number plate FFF 654 TK, that was still at the scene of the kidnap on Wednesday.

They were abducted at the same spot where a medical doctor and a nurse travelling from Imeko town, were also kidnapped last month before they were later released.

This was after an undisclosed sum of money was paid as ransom by the Nigerian Medical Association.

The latest kidnap came less than a week after a businesswoman, Roselyn Edusi and her guest were kidnapped at Omu, Ofada in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

It was also gathered that five other persons from the same vehicle were spared by the same kidnappers.

When journalists visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday afternoon, residents of Olubo, Obada-Idi Emi, Imeko-Afon and Ilara protested the abduction, and barricaded the road.

Narrating their ordeal, Mrs. Akewugberu and Mrs. Rofiat Oladeinde, said the commercial vehicle was abruptly stopped by four gunmen, who shot into the air repeatedly.

They explained that the gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes, abducted the driver and three women who were selected randomly among the passengers.

They added that the abductors spared a Fulani and two Hausa passengers among them but collected their money and cell phones.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ogun Police Command, Bolanle Muritala appealed to the residents to remove the barricade on the road.

He said the police were already on the trail of the abductors.

“We are going after the abductors, that is why we are here. We shall definitely get them,” he said, while being surrounded by irate villagers and gun-totting policemen.

Muritala arrived the scene in a police helicopter marked 5N-GEJ.

One of the victim’s husband, Mr Mutiu Oderinde, said his wife, Jelilat, had travelled to Ilara market for trading to help her mother, who according to him was unable to go due to illness.

Oderinde, who cried profusely at the scene and kept staring at the vast forest, appealed to the state government and security agencies to secure the release of his wife and other abductees unhurt.

Also the chairman, Park Management, Ayetoro Motor Park, Abeokuta,Mr Babatunde Adelakun, said the kidnapped driver was his employee.

He said there are 48 police checkpoints, including 10 Highway Patrol teams, from Abeokuta to Ilara.