Protest rocks Ondo as bandits demand N80m for abducted couple

Residents of Eleyewo Community in Akure North Local Government Area on Saturday morning took to the streets to protest the abduction of two persons by bandits.

The victims, identified as Jamiu Olawale and his wife, were kidnapped during an attack on the community on Friday night, which also left another person, Patrick Ilumaro, shot.

Angry residents blocked the Akure-Owo expressway during the protest, chanting solidarity songs for several hours. Police later cleared the road for users.

A family source revealed that the bandits had contacted the victims’ family, demanding N80M for the couple’s release.

“The bandits have contacted the family of Mr Jamiu and demanded N80M for their release. They requested N40M to free each of them,” the relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abayomi Jimoh, said the attack occurred around 9:45 p.m. on Friday.

He said, “On 20th February, at about 9:45 p.m., information was received regarding an incident involving Mr Jamiu Olawale and his wife, residents of Olaribigba Estate, Iluabo.

“The couple had just returned home from their shop in an ash-coloured Toyota Camry when they were attacked at the frontage of their residence by gunmen who reportedly emerged from the surrounding bush.

“The attackers abducted the couple and whisked them away to an unknown destination. During the incident, a neighbour, Mr Patrick Ilumaro, who was seated in front of his residence, sustained a gunshot wound. He was promptly rushed to hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.”

The incident occurred barely two days after the monarch of Agamo Community in the same local government, Oba Kehinde Falodun, was killed by armed bandits.(Punch)