Olayomi Koiki

OYO, Nigeria – Two farmers in Nigeria’s western Oyo State have reportedly been kidnapped by gunmen.

The abducted victims, Mr Wasiu Oluaye Ganiyu and Mr Augustine were whisked away by the armed kidnappers who stormed Ogunlere village in Oje-Owode town under Saki East Local Government Area of the state – in the early morning hours of July 1st 2024.

A resident close to the victims told KOIKI Media that the gunmen stormed the village around 12 am with heavy gunshots and kidnapped the farmers who also reside in the village.

According to the source, Mr Wasiu Oluaye Ganiyu is Yoruba man, while Mr Augustine is an Igede man

The source said local vigilante operatives proceeded into the bush in search for the abducted men, but noted that the attempt yielded no result.

He said the kidnappers have reached out to the victims’ families and demanded N10 million ransom for each victim.

A second local told KOIKI Media that residents started noticing the presence of armed men in the village – last year’s November, prompting local hunters to give the hoodlums hot chase. He said at least 4 hunters were shot by the assailants then, while some villagers fled their homes.

The source said that operatives of Oyo State Police Command, western region security network, codenamed Amotekun Corps and other security agencies were deployed to restore peace in the village.

He said the assailants stormed the village again in June and abducted a farmer, who was later released after a search party was conducted by security operatives following the attack.

Police could not be reached for comments on this latest abduction of two farmers.

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