One of the six people abducted by some armed men believed to be Fulani herdsmen in Esa Oke on Tuesday has been released.

The abductors have also demanded ransom before releasing four other staff members of the polytechnic in their custody.

Multiple security sources confirmed the release to our correspondent on Wednesday afternoon.

Some suspected armed Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday evening attacked vehicles carrying some employees of Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, who were returning home after close of work.

It was learnt that the men, wielding dangerous weapons, ambushed the vehicles carrying the employees, shot one of them who worked in Registry Department, Mr. Olaniyi Emmanuel, killing him on the spot; and abducted eight others.

A student that spoke to our correspondent on the campus of the institution, who simply identified himself as Thomas, said the men waylaid the victims returning home on a bad spot of the road, where their vehicles could not move at fast speed.

Those abducted were: Mr. Olaleye Olalekan (Business Administration Department), Engr. Adeyeoluwa Bankole (HOD civil engineering), Dr. Jesuola Ajibola (Director Ventures), Adenreti Chukwu (Secretary to Civil Engineering Department) and one Rachael Onyinocha Akinboboye (OSCOTECH Microfinance Bank).

Also, three students, whose identities could not be confirmed, were abducted alongside the staff members.

Confirming the release to our correspondent in a chat on the campus of the institution, Deputy Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Elandia Johnson, said three students abducted alongside the staff members were released on Tuesday.

He added that the abductors later released a lecturer, but demanded ransom to have others released.

“Four students that were in the vehicle with the abducted employees were released last night. Later, a lecturer was also freed.

“There are four staffers of the polytechnic in their custody now. Their abductors have also demanded ransom, but we can’t disclose that now,” Elandia said.

A representative of Osun State Government, Mr. Oguntola Toogun, who also visited Esa Oke, said few items picked at the scene of the incident, believed to be dresses and footwear of the perpetrators of the crime, suggested that armed Fulani men carried out the attack.

He said, “The slippers and few other things we picked at the scene suggested that ‘Fulani bororo’ carried out the attack.

“We are intensifying our search. Others in the custody of the abductors will be freed. We are working towards that already.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, after inspecting the scene of the incident, said men of the command were combing the bush to free others in the custody of the kidnappers. – Punch

– Dec. 5, 2018 @ 17:39 GMT |