By Adewale Momoh, Akure
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a 53-year-old man and abducted his son, 23, in Ijagba community in Ose Local Council of Ondo State.
The incident occurred when victim, Isaac Odeh and his son, Solomon Odeh, were on their way to the farm within the community.
According to the residents, the kidnappers killed the farmer after they collected the N400,000 ransom for the release of the victims.
Speaking on the incident, Prime Minister of the Ijagba community, Chief Sunday Ogoh, decried incessant attacks on farmers and locals in the community in the past two years.
He said: “Just three days ago, we lost one of our illustrious sons by the name of Ohiremen Isaac Odeh, while the other son, named Solomon Isaac Odeh, was also attacked on their way to the farm. Apart from that, we also lost one of our former chairmen, Mr. Bola Adelegbe.
“In search for the victims in the bush, it was discovered that Mr. Ohiremen Isaac Odeh was killed by the abductors, while his lifeless body was found several kilometres in the bush.
“On the same day, the remains of Mr. Ohiremen Isaac Odeh were deposited in the mortuary, while N400,000 ransom was paid to the abductors to release his son.”
Confirming the incident, Solomon said: “They (herdsmen) used rope to tie me and my father, and they said that if our relatives cannot pay the ransom, they will kill us. They killed my father, while the sum of N400,000 was paid before they released me.”
When contacted, spokesperson for Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said: “We are aware of the situation in the community, and we are on top of the situation with a view to arresting those behind the attacks.
“I can assure you that with our investigation, we will arrest the perpetrators.”
Source: The Guardian