A farmer, Ikanlu Jimoh, has been rescued by villagers who gave a three-man gang of masked kidnappers a hot chase after they kidnapped the farmer alongside a businesswoman, Mujidat Otefila, and her daughter in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the operations happened in different communities in the Imeko-Afon LGA on Saturday.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent, said the first operation happened when the suspects abducted Jimoh who was planting tomatoes on his farm at Saparu village, in Isale Oha, Imeko-Afon.
The source said, “They covered their faces with masks and shot five times to scare other people farming with him (Jimoh).”
The source, however, said the suspects abandoned Jimoh when villagers including farmers working close to the scene of the attack, gave them a hot chase.
However, a few hours after the farmer was rescued, the same suspects reportedly abducted a businesswoman, Mujidat Otefila, and her yet-to-be-identified daughter.
A resident of the area who spoke to our correspondent anonymously for fear of victimisation said Otefila was kidnapped at her residence in Oju-Ilu Community Development Area, Isale, Imeko township, at the back of the Imeko Afon LGA secretariat.
The source said, “She (Otefila) was ambushed as she was driving into her compound while returning from her shop. One of her daughters came down from the vehicle to open the gate of the house.
“The kidnappers suddenly appeared from their hiding place in the compound, descended on her, and forced the woman to drive to the outskirts of the community where the vehicle and the daughter were abandoned.
“The incident happened around 9.50pm on Saturday. They have used the woman’s phone number to call the family and that they will talk to the family later.”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the daughter abandoned alongside her mother had been rescued, adding that efforts were on to rescue Otefila.
She said, “The kidnappers fled when they heard sounds of motorcycles used to chase after them and we later found the victim (Jimoh) tied up where he was abandoned and he was rescued.
“But on the second incident, I am reliably informed that policemen are trailing the kidnappers. There is a network challenge but the synergy between the vigilante and Amoteku is working.
“So far, we have rescued the little baby that was with her. Also, we have recovered her Toyota Corolla which the kidnappers took her away with.”
