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The police command in Ekiti State has confirmed the kidnap of eight persons in Itapaji Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
This is coming barely a week after four persons were abducted at Ayebode, also in Ikole Local Government Area.
Sources closed to the families of the abducted persons said on they were in touch with the gunmen and a sum of N50million was being demanded.
The gunmen reportedly besieged a house located in the town around 9.30pm on Tuesday, shot sporadically into the air and made away with eight occupants of the building.
The gunshots that lasted for over one hour were said to have terrified the residents of the community.
It was further gathered that the owner of the house was preparing for the burial of his mother when the gunmen attacked.
“The men numbering seven came around 9.30pm with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically,” a source said.
“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down. They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush.
“Early today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors and demanded for a ransom of N50m.”
Some residents have blamed the absence of a police station in Itapaji, Ayuebode and Irele-Oke Ako areas for the increasing rate of kidnapping in the towns.
The nearest police post to the towns is about 25km.
Sunday Abutu, Ekiti police spokesman, while confirming the incident, said efforts were underway to rescue the victims.
“The Command is working on that,” he said. “Already special police operatives as well as the JTF have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits.”