Gunmen kidnap five cocoa farmers in Ibadan
Five cocoa farmers were yesterday abducted in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city. The victims are members of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Ogun State Chapter who were
- From Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
Five cocoa farmers were yesterday abducted in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city.
The victims are members of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Ogun State Chapter who were to the facility on a familiarisation tour.
The farmers were led by the immediate past chairman who went on the visit to introduce his successor as well as a former member of the board and two others to see the situation of things in the facility.
It was gathered that the farmers were at the CRIN nursery site to submit their yearly collections of cocoa seedlings for the planting season.
As at the time the incident occured, five farmers were abducted. But, as at the time of this report, two of the farmers had been rescued.
In a viral video taken after the incident, an elderly man who introduced himself as the immediate past chairman of the association said he was asked to go back after the abductors observed he was old.
The spokesman of the state command of the Nigeria Police, Ayanlade Olayinka, said a vehicle belonging to the victim had also been recovered.
He said as soon as the distress report was received, a team comprising the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante groups, and Amotekun Corps mobilised to the scene and pursued the assailants.
Also, operatives of the police have re-arrested a suspected kidnappers who had earlier escaped from police custody.
The incident had generated protests in the affected community.
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He explained that the prompt response led to the rescue of the two male victims, adding that three suspects were arrested and are in police custody.
He further said the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, had directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alongside other tactical teams, to reinforce the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Idi-Ayunre Division, and other operatives in an ongoing intensive bush combing operation.
Also, operatives of the police have re-arrested a suspected kidnappers who had earlier escaped from police custody.
The incident had generated protests in the affected community.
It was gathered that the operatives attached to the Ojongbodu Area Command about 11:30pm on March 17, while on routine patrol at Irepo Junction, Ojongbodu, Oyo, intercepted a suspicious man walking in the vicinity and stopped him for questioning.
Upon interrogation, the suspect was identified as one Ayomide Kareem, 25 , of Osorun’s Compound, Oyo.
It was gathered that further checks confirmed that the suspect is the same person who had earlier escaped from police custody at Jobele Division on March 10, in connection with a case of suspected kidnapping that triggered protest by residents and students in Oyo, leading to gridlock
Following the incident and the unprofessional conduct of the operatives involved—who have since been detained and are undergoing orderly room trial, he Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Femi Haruna, ordered the re-arrest of the suspect.
He had also queried the affected officers, including the redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Jobele Division.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the re-arrest of the suspect.
