AKNIWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
Some hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted a village head and his wife in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It was learnt that the gunmen had stormed the Araromi village in Bakatari area of Ibadan on Tuesday night and whisked away the village head, Chief Tafa Apanpa, and his wife to an unknown destination.
Bakatari village in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, along the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, is a border town between Oyo and Ogun states.
Some residents of the community who spoke with journalists anonymously for security reasons said the abduction was carried out while it was raining on Tuesday night.
The whereabouts of the victims was still unknown as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday.
A resident of the area who pleaded not to be named said, “It is true that the Baale had been kidnapped.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State command, Mr Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident, saying that efforts had been intensified to secure the release of the victims.
“The incident happened very late on Tuesday, 22nd of June, at Araro village. Efforts are in top gear to rescue both victims and as well apprehend the abductors, please,” he said.
The kidnap of the monarch and his wife came few days after some gunmen reportedly abducted four Chinese who were working on the Lagos- Ibadan standard gauge rail project at a border town between Oyo and Ogun states.
The foreigners have, however, been released after the payment of an undisclosed amount of money as ransom.
