Gunmen have abducted Dr. Ayodele Ajayi, the immediate past Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele near Abeokuta in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was gathered that the former Provost was abducted with his wife and driver at about 7 p.m. at Ikija village in the Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road.

It was further learnt that Ajayi’s wife was later released by the abductors, while he and his driver were taken away.

A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the gunmen came out of the bush to attack Ajayi and other motorists along the road.

He added that the gunmen after shooting sporadically into the air blocked the road and whisked the victims away.

The source who lamented the increasing rate of abduction in the area claimed that no fewer than five persons have been kidnapped in the last one week in the area.

He said: “Just yesterday (Monday), the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released.

“Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis.

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“The Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunisola, was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and is still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta.

“We need help, this is getting too much. Our people are no longer safe; we need government’s intervention and the security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities.”

Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, said the police and other security operatives were on the abductors’ trail.

Odutola, who said the command received a distress call and a direct message from an FCE official stating that the ex-college Provost was kidnapped, assured that the victims would be rescued.

She stated that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Alamutu Abiodun, has ordered a joint operation of all security agencies.

The police spokesperson added: “He has asked them all to start combing the bush and all the surrounding areas in a bid to find them.

“But there is no cause for more panic. The CP has deployed operational teams and detectives of the Ogun Police Command to go after the yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

“They will be rescued as assured by the CP because all the security agencies are on a joint operation combing the bush.

”Several operatives of the Police, as well as those of Amotekun, vigilance groups, and hunters have been mobilised into the forest on strict order to apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims alive.”

The Star