In the early hours of Friday, some commuters using the Osogbo/Ikirun route were kidnapped in the Ayepe community by some individuals said to be bandits.
The victims were allegedly taken into the bush by their kidnappers. There were no immediate details about how the victims were taken, however, it was reported that the culprits demobilised the car they were in before taking them to a nearby patch of bush.
A senior officer reported that some bandits were suspected, as he added that bandits were identified as the perpetrators of a similar case of abduction that occurred in Dagbolu, a community also located along the Osogbo/Ikirun expressway on Wednesday.
Moses Taiwo, a bricklayer, was held hostage on Wednesday by four guys who were equipped with firearms and machetes. He was then brought to a jungle off the Osogbo/Ikirun road.
After being freed, Taiwo learned that his kidnappers conversed in Fulfulde and Yoruba.
The security source added further details about the most recent kidnapping, saying that the victims were carried to a bush at the intersection of Iragbiji, Ibokun, and Osogbo.
“The exact number of those taken cannot yet be determined, but we have been informed that five people travelling in a car were taken and transported to a bush in the middle of Iragbiji, Osogbo, and Ibokun.
On Wednesday, they carried out a similar attack in Dagbolu, the informant said. Hunters and police were already searching the nearby bush.
When approached for confirmation, Osun Police Command spokeswoman, Yemisi Opalola, stated that the incident had been reported.
“We don’t yet know how many individuals were kidnapped, but the abandoned victims cars have been brought to our station in Ikirun, and the driver has been located.
“A search and rescue effort is still underway to make sure we find those kidnapped,” she added.