Abducted Army Officer
An army officer who was reportedly abducted by armed men in Ondo State yesterday has been released.
Spokesperson for the 32 Artillery Brigade, Captain Ayorinde Omojokun confirmed this report and the release of the soldier in Owena Barracks of the Nigerian Army, Akure, Thursday morning.
The soldier was released alongside two others on Wednesday night at a border town between Ondo and Edo states.
Recall Gunmen on Tuesday had kidnapped four people along Kabba-Auga Akoko Expressway in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
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One of the victims, an officer in the Nigeria Army, identified as Captain D. Gana and the three others were said to be coming from Abuja when the incident happened.
According to a source, the hoodlums stopped the vehicle conveying the victims, on the expressway and dragged them into the bush to an unknown destination.
The source explained further that the hoodlums did not pick any item belonging to the victims from the vehicle but left the doors of the vehicle open after taking the victims away.
It was however gathered that the abductors had contacted the families of the victims, demanding N20m for the release of the four victims.
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A police source said, immediately the police at Ikare Akoko Division, got the information, they swung into action and deployed policemen from the division in the area. They were said to have met only the abandoned vehicle.
It was learnt that men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure, also mobilised to the area to comb the bush with a view to rescuing the victims and apprehend the culprits.
When contacted, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed that the incident happened along Auga/Akunnu Road on Tuesday
According to saharareporters, the recently freed army officer is now on his way to Ibadan, Oyo State, where he is billed to report for a special assignment.