Nigerian Army on Friday killed four suspected kidnappers during an attack along Owo-Ifon Expressway, Ondo State.
Information gathered revealed that the military officers who were on patrol rammed into the kidnappers who had blocked the road while attempting to abduct some travellers.
It was disclosed that the kidnappers had already abducted some victims when the soldiers got to the scene.
A source said, “On sighting the soldiers, the hoodlums opened fire on them and the soldiers responded and killed four of the hoodlums 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 incident was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Tee-Leo Ikoro.
He further stated that men of the Command are 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.
In a related development, residents of Owobamigbe Farm Settlement in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, have reportedly fled the community for fear of being attack by the Fulani herdsmen.
It was reported that a cassava farmer and herdsmen fought after the herdsmen used their cows to destroy a large expanse of cassava farms located in the area.
A source revealed that the son of the farmer fought with the herdsmen when he met them uprooting cassava to feed their cows.
It was disclosed that while attempting to stop the herdsmen, they allegedly machete him, inflicting various degrees of injury on him. The source said it was the other farmers that rescued the boy.
A resident of the community, Mr Michael Abiodun, explained that the villagers had started leaving the area for the 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 called on the police and Amotekun corps in the state to come to their rescue and beef up security in the area to prevent bloodshed.