Panic in Ekiti community as gunmen kidnap trader, fatally machet farmer

Panic on Saturday evening gripped the people of Iyemero Ekiti, in Ikole local government area of Ekiti State, as gun-wielding kidnappers invaded the community and abducted a popular trader, Nusirat Saliu.

During the invasion, which was accompanied by sporadic gunshots, a man known to be a farmer, sustained severe injuries after he was macheted in the head.

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Following the sporadic gunshots, people on the streets ran in different directions leaving room for the kidnappers to grab the victim and forcefully drag her into the nearby forest which leads to Kwara and Kogi borders.

An eyewitness told newsmen on Sunday that the abduction happened around 8pm on Saturday.

He said the abductors, numbering five, who brandished AK 47 rifles, had had a pleasurable time at a section of the town and pretended to be buyers, who came on a friendly visit before they struck and took Mrs. Saliu to an unknown destination.

“They were at a section of the town pretending to be buyers and used the opportunity to study the woman’s movements in and out of her shop. They waited till nightfall and suddenly, we heard gunshots that lasted for about five minutes, with this, we knew something was wrong.

“They followed the woman into her shop, grabbed and dragged her into the forest as they shot indiscriminately to scare the people.

“As they were doing this, a farmer who was at the shop then and made efforts to struggle with them was shot. But when they realized the pellets couldn’t penetrate the man, they drew out a sharp cutlass and inflicted a deep cut on his head. He is presently at the hospital”.

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The source said the police, local hunters, Amotekun Corps, and vigilante groups have started combing the sprawling forest that bordered two neighboring states without success.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, said the Command is yet to be briefed about the incident.

However, an eyewitness revealed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ikole Council area visited the community around 7.12 am on Sunday and promised to recover the woman and also apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime.