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Ondo: 4 dead in kidnappers-soldiers clash, farmers fled after brush with herdsmen
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Four suspected kidnappers were reportedly killed on Friday when they attacked soldiers on patrol along Owo-Ifon Expressway, Ondo State.
The soldiers were said to have run into the kidnappers who had barricaded the road while attempting to abduct some travellers.
The Punch reports that the kidnappers had already abducted some victims when the soldiers got to the scene.
A source said, “On sighting the soldiers, the kidnappers opened fire on them and the soldiers responded and killed four of them while four of the soldiers were also wounded.
“The gun duel lasted for almost an hour but the kidnappers left the victims and ran into the forest while the injured soldiers were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.”
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Tee-Leo Ikoro, according to The Punch, confirmed the incident and said men of the command were already in the forest in search of the bandits.
“Our men have combed the forest while investigation has begun into the incident. About four soldiers were wounded in the attack,” Ikoro stated.
READ: Southern, Middlebelt leaders raise alarm over fleeing northern youths
The spokesman for the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Captain Ayorinde Omojokun, was not forthcoming with information when contacted.
Meanwhile, tension has seized residents of Owobamigbe Farm Settlement in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, who have reportedly fled the community for fear of being attacked by Fulani herdsmen.
It was gathered that fight broke out between some cassava farmers and herdsmen in the community. The herdsmen allegedly used their cows to destroy a large expanse of cassava farms located in the area.
A source said fight broke out on Friday morning when the son of a farmer met some herders at the farm uprooting cassava to feed their cows. An attempt to stop them infuriated the herdsmen who allegedly macheted him, inflicting various degrees of injury on him.
A resident of the community, Mr Michael Abiodun, explained that the villagers had started leaving the area for fear of further attacks by the herdsmen.
Abiodun said, “We are not going to sleep in our hamlets for now because anytime we have issues with herdsmen, they would always come back at night to attack us.”
He urged the police and Amotekun corps in the state to come to their rescue and beef up security in the area to prevent bloodshed.