Etim Effiong
Ekiti State Police Command have begun a search for the kidnappers of a farmer, Isaac Agbanigo, who was abducted in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
It was learnt that Agabnigo was abducted in the presence of his family members while returning home from his farm at Ajengbede, on Ikere-Ise road around 4 pm on Saturday.
The police, in a statement on Sunday, said it has launched an investigation into the matter to quicken the farmer’s rescue from captivity.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, noted that the victim’s wife had told the police that she, her husband, and their children were about to enter their vehicle to return home after finishing their farm work when they were accosted by seven masked heavily armed men.
According to Abutu, the woman narrated that the kidnappers ordered them to lie face down or risk being shot.
“After the suspects asked us series of questions, they escorted her and her children to the main road but took her husband away to an unknown destination.
“My husband’s family members have been in dispute over the same farm with a lot of threats before the incident happened hence, she suspects that the other side of the family must be behind the abduction of her husband, as the abductors were all speaking Ikere dialect,” the woman was credited to have said.
Abutu explained that the police have commenced a serious manhunt and investigation to unravel the identities and apprehend those behind the abduction of Mr Agbanigo.
“It should be noted that on the said date at about 6.45 pm, information got to Ilupeju-Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters in Ikere Ekiti that some unknown armed men abducted a man from his farm.
“Upon receipt of the information, a combined team of Police Personnel from Ikere Area Command and Ilupeju-Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters mobilized to the scene where they met only the wife and the children of the victim.
“Meanwhile, the Command has invited three persons for interrogation and further investigation,” Abutu said.
He noted that the Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Tunde Mobayo, implored all citizens to remain calm, saying the Command will do everything possible to rescue the victim and apprehend those behind the abduction. Abutu asked anyone with useful information that could assist the Police in apprehending the suspects to visit the nearest police station.