Gunmen abduct 300-level student in Ondo
Akindoyo Gideon, a 300-level Computer Engineering student of Al-Hikmah University, Igbaja, Kwara State, has been reportedly abducted in Ode-Irele in Irele Local Government area of Ondo State.
It was gathered that the victim was abducted at his parent’s farm at Lumeko village via Ode-Irele in Irele Local Government Area of the state.
Gideon, who travelled to meet his parents and later went to the farm in his motorcycle to harvest cassava when he was reportedly abducted.
His motorcycle was later discovered on the farm while his whereabouts remained unknown
A statement by Henry Okunomo, the leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students, appealed to security agencies in the state to find the missing person.
The association linked the abduction of the 30-year-old Gideon to the lingering communal crisis between Ode-Irele community and Igbobini Community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, calling on the leaders of the two communities to ensure the safety of the missing student.
Okunomo said that ” information gathered from the National President of Irele Local Government Students and a community leader Dr Adekugbe Erik, the student had travelled home to gather foodstuffs from his community, only to be abducted while working on his father’s farm.
“The community leader reported that the student’s disappearance coincided with an attack by the Igbobini community, resulting in destroyed homes and properties.
“We categorically demand that the leadership of both Irele and Igbobini communities produce the student, either dead or alive, within the next 72 hours
” Failure to do so will compel us to relocate the NANS secretariat to the affected communities, where we will remain until the student’s safe return is secured.”
The association called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and employ all necessary measures to resolve the lingering crisis between the two communities.
According to them ” the safety and security of our members are non-negotiable, and we will not hesitate to take drastic action if our demands are not met.”
The mother of the abducted student, Mrs Janet Akindoyo, said the boy arrived in Ode-Irele on Sunday, June 10, and went to the farm the following day to harvest cassava but had not returned.
” He has not returned, search party saw his motorcycle where he parked it but we haven’t seen him. I’m appealing to the security and the people to help find him,” she appealed.
Reacting, the state Police Spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami confirmed the incident.
Odunlami said, “Our men are working in the forest in search of the person and investigation into the matter has begun.