KEY POINTS

• Akure North council staff abducted at his home in Ilu-Abo
• Gunmen also kidnap fuel station worker in Owo LGA
• Police launch rescue operations as search intensifies

Gunmen have abducted a staff member of Akure North Local Government Area in Ondo State, alongside a filling station attendant in two separate incidents that have heightened security concerns across the state.

The victims were taken in different communities within Akure North and Owo Local Government Areas, with police confirming that rescue operations have already been launched.

The first incident involved Samson Gbenga Sanni, a local government worker popularly known as “Timber,” who was abducted on Sunday evening.

He was reportedly kidnapped at about 7:10pm at his residence in the Agbelere area of Ilu-Abo community in Akure North LGA.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, believed to be three armed men, seized him shortly after he returned home from work. The gunmen carried out the abduction in the presence of his wife and two children before whisking him away.

Residents said the attackers had earlier laid an ambush in a nearby bush, suggesting the operation was planned and targeted.

Police Confirm Attack in Akure North

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that officers had been deployed to the area to track down the abductors and secure the release of the victim.

Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade said tactical teams had been mobilised as part of ongoing efforts to rescue Sanni and apprehend those responsible for the kidnapping.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements that could assist investigations.

In a separate development, a female filling station attendant was also abducted in Emure-Ile area of Owo Local Government Area.

Sources said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when armed men stormed the area and forcefully took the victim to an unknown destination.

Details surrounding the second abduction remain unclear, but residents expressed concern over the increasing rate of kidnapping in rural communities across the state.

The two incidents have added to growing fears over insecurity in parts of Ondo State, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where kidnapping cases have been on the rise.

Community members have called for stronger security presence, especially along bush paths and isolated residential areas often used by criminals for ambushes.

The police command has assured the public that coordinated efforts are ongoing to rescue both victims unharmed.

Security operatives are reportedly combing surrounding forests and suspected escape routes, while intelligence gathering has been stepped up to track the abductors.

Authorities have also encouraged residents to provide useful information that could aid ongoing rescue missions and help curb further attacks in the state.