Armed Assailants March Victims Into Forest, Families Beg for Mercy
Panic has gripped Parubber community in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area after gunmen abducted two farmers while they worked on their farms on Monday, marching them into a nearby forest and demanding a staggering ₦100 million ransom for their release.
The kidnappers have since contacted the victims’ families, piling pressure on them to raise the massive sum or risk losing their loved ones.
“They Won’t Stop Calling”—Source
A close source revealed the anguish facing the families:
“The kidnappers have contacted the wife of one of the victims and demanded ₦100m ransom. They have been pressuring the family to pay the money. It’s a nightmare.”
The identities of the victims have not been publicly disclosed as negotiations continue privately.
Security Forces Launch Manhunt
DSP Jimoh Abayomi, Police Public Relations Officer for Ondo State, confirmed that the command received a report of the abduction at the Oke-Igbo Divisional Headquarters and has immediately mobilised a joint security task force to rescue the victims.
According to the PPRO, the team includes:
· Police operatives
· Anti-Kidnapping Squad
· Amotekun personnel
· Local hunters
· Vigilante groups
“A coordinated search-and-rescue operation is underway. Intelligence-driven efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims unhurt and bring those behind the abduction to justice,” Abayomi stated.
Community on Edge
Residents of the agrarian community have been urged to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid the rescue operation.
The incident adds to the growing wave of kidnappings for ransom plaguing farming communities in Ondo State, where bandits increasingly target rural workers who are often vulnerable and exposed.
No Arrest Yet
As of press time, no arrests had been made, and the fate of the two farmers hangs in the balance as security forces comb the dense forest terrain.
