Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, struck yesterday in Ondo State, kidnapping Alhaji Bodunde Oyinlade, the Chief Imam of the Uso Community in Owo Local Council Area of the state in the process.

The Chief Imam was kidnapped on his farm by unknown gunmen within the community, situated along the Owo-Akure highway.

According to sources in the community, Alhaji Oyinlade, 67, had left for the farm in the afternoon when his abductors trailed him and attacked him.

One of the sources disclosed that the kidnappers later took him into the bush after he was overpowered by the gun-wielding kidnappers.

“Alhaji Ibrahim Oyinlade was abducted at Asolo Farm Camp, Uso, at around 3:00 p.m. today, Saturday.”

A family member confirmed that the kidnappers had contacted the family but had yet to demand ransom as of the time of filing this report.

The situation had thrown the community into a state of tension, with local vigilantes already mobilized to comb the forest and rescue the Chief Imam.

Meanwhile, as of press time, the spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Olufumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, could not be reached for official confirmation.