Eight people were on Tuesday October 26 kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Itapaji Ekiti community. 

This is coming barely a week after four people were kidnapped at Ayebode, in same Ikole Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State.

The gunmen who besieged a house located in the town around 9.30pm, shooting sporadically into the air and taking away eight victims, contacted the family of victims on Wednesday October 27 and demanded a sum of N50 million as ransom.

An eyewitness said the attack lasted for over one hour and the owner of the building was preparing for his mother’s burial when the incident occurred. 

READ ALSO Bandits attack Zamfara village, kill 7 people

A source told Daily Trust;

“The kidnappers, seven, came around 9.30pm with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically.

“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down.

“They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush.

“Early today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors and demanded a ransom of N50m.”

The eyewitness stated that lack of police stations in Itapaji-Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako axis, is responsible for increasing cases of kidnapping in the area as the nearest police station is in Ikole Ekiti, which is over 40 minutes drive to the troubled spots.

The state police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu confirmed the incident saying;

“The Command is working on that.

“Already, special police operatives, as well as the JTF, have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits”