Six gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday, March 22, 2021, abducted three farm managers from poultry farms at Pampo community, in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, while one of the victims managed to escape.
Thenewsbearer gathered that the kidnappers, who came with AK-47 rifles, and wore military fatigues, invaded the agricultural farm community, located on Eyenkorin-Afon-Ogele road, at about 4pm.
They were said to have arrived at one of the farms in a Toyota Hilux SUV, shooting sporadically into the air.
After laying hands on the Chief Security Officer in charge of the farm, the kidnappers were said to have locked him in a room, after which they abducted two staff from the first poultry farm.
They also abducted a manager from another farm when they branched at the place on their way out of the community, but another farm hand who was taken later managed to escape, a reliable source said.
It was further gathered that the abductors had contacted the farm owners, demanding N45 million as ransom for the release of the three victims, with N15 million placed on the head of each.
Speaking with journalists, one of the farm owners disclosed that the people kidnapped were two males and a female, saying that it was evident that kidnappers were Fulanis, the way they conversed with them on phone, though they spoke in Yoruba language.
“We appealed to them to accept N1million from us for the three victims, making them to know that we are just poor farmers. But they just said that we should go and get a reasonable amount before the release of our people,” the farm owner said.
He added that case had been reported to police, and they had been on the trail of the kidnappers to rescue the victims.
Confirming the story, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that efforts were being made by police to secure the freedom of the kidnap victims, and to arrest their abductors.
The PPRO said that the operatives were still on their trail, combing the forest to know their hideout.