Gunmen kidnapped a traveller on the Isan-Iludun-Ekiti Highway in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Friday.
Amotekun Corps Commander in the state, Retired Brig.-Gen. Joe Komolafe confirmed the incident on Saturday and said another would-have-been victim was rescued by the corps.
He said the Ekiti State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps and the police command in the state jointly engaged the gunmen before one of the travellers was rescued while the other was abducted.
Komolafe said in Ado-Ekiti that the kidnappers were suspected herdsmen.
He said the assailants shot at the vehicle in which the victims were travelling on Friday but were confronted by men of the Amotekun Corps and the police.
“According to information made available to us, the victims were ambushed at a bad spot and when they were trying to make a detour to escape, another set of gunmen came out from the bush from behind them and started shooting at the vehicle from both ends.
“The victims hurriedly opened the vehicle and ran into the bush in different directions.
“They were pursued by the gunmen and abducted but we were able to rescue one of them. The kidnappers abandoned one of the victims and we have been in the bush with other security agents since Friday trying to rescue the other person,’’ he said.
Komolafe called on residents of Ekiti State not to panic as Amotekun men, in collaboration with other security agents, would ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victim and intensify surveillance on all highways to guarantee safety of travellers.
(NAN)