Police launch manhunt for hotelier, LAUTECH student’s abductors

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded Abaa, a community near the Ladoke  Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and abducted two persons.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed the community located in the Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State on Thursday night and whisked away the victims; a hotelier and a female worker.

A source identified the female worker, Rachael Opadele, as a final year student of LAUTECH. Some LAUTECH workers and students were said to be living in the community located off the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the hotelier, his worker and one other person were swiftly whisked away by their abductors.

The source said the community head, Chief John Adepoju, immediately sent messages to residents to remain vigilant and stay indoors after the incident.

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The source said Adepoju called a meeting of residents of the community to discuss  the next step to take.

The source said, “The hotel owner travelled and returned yesterday and the incident happened not long after his return.

The kidnappers were about 10 from what those who witnessed the incident told us. They said they also fired several shots to scare people away before whisking their victims away.

The LAUTECH student was working at the hotel because of the ASUU strike. Her father died some months ago. We pray that they will release them unhurt.”

Recall that this month, the supervisor of the late ex-governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s farm, Christopher Bakare,  was abducted at Jabata in the Surulere LGA and the owner of a private clinic  identified simply as Dr Rasheed was also kidnapped. Both were released by their abductors after ransom payment.

The state police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. He stated that investigation had begun on the matter.

The Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, also confirmed the incident, adding that he got in touch with the police and they assured him that investigation had commenced into the incident.

The monarch also said the Security Adviser to the Governor Seyi Makinde, Fatai Owoseni, who is a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, had been helpful concerning security in the area. He called for reinforcement of security agents to the area to prevent recurrence of the incident.

PUNCH