Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted two farmers in the Parubber community in the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Council Area of Ondo State after they were forcefully taken from their farms.

The victims were working on their farms when the assailants struck, overpowering them and dragging them into the bush surrounding the community.

According to one of the farmers, Yemi Omowale, who narrowly escaped the attack, recounted the harrowing experience that he and the victims had been on the farm feeding animals.

Omowale said he spotted a masked man armed with an AK-47 rifle moving toward one of the victims, Adetan Adebanjo Gbemi.

He said, “Because we were not standing together, I saw him first. The attacker was masked and carrying an AK-47. Before I could raise an alarm, he had already moved toward Gbemi, and others emerged from different directions.”

Omowale, who fled during the attack, said the kidnappers also abducted another farmer, a female, whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed.

Omowale, also revealed that the kidnappers have since established contact with the wife of one of the abducted victims with the gunmen demanding a ransom of N100 million for the release of the two farmers.

“They still call the wife of the victim, asking her how much she has raised so far,” Omowale said, his voice heavy with concern. “We are begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brother and sister unharmed.”

The escaped farmer confirmed that the incident has been reported to both the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, code-named Amotekun, in the local government area.

Responding to the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that a report of missing persons was received at the Oke-Igbo Divisional Headquarters.

Abayomi stated that a joint security team comprising police operatives, including the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, local hunters and vigilante groups, was swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.

The police spokesperson assured the public that the operation is being intensified and urged residents to remain calm while providing any credible information that may assist the ongoing rescue efforts.

Abayomi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible. He encouraged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information through the nearest police formation.