While the 38 kidnapped and later freed worshippers of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke-Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Council of Kwara State, continue receiving medical care in Ilorin, the community suffered another attack on Sunday, with a farmer identified as Annas Aasanru taken away.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident, stating that officers from the Eruku Division received a report around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday that four armed individuals invaded a farm along Koro Road, Eruku, at about 12:30 p.m., and kidnapped Mr Aasanru, aged 40.
“After receiving the report, a joint team of police, military personnel and local vigilante members was immediately deployed to the area for an intensive search and rescue operation,” the spokesperson added.
The Command assured residents that every necessary action is being taken to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted individual.
A community leader explained that the attackers, believed to be Fulani/Bororo men numbering about four, raided a farm along the route leading to Koro.
“Armed with cutlasses and AK-47 rifles, the assailants invaded the farmland and kidnapped a man identified as Annas Aasanru, a native of Eruku, before escaping into the bush,” he said.
In a separate development, Oba Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan in Ifelodun Local Council, who was kidnapped last Saturday with six others, has regained his freedom.
Oba Ojibara escaped with six other abductees from neighbouring villages and communities on Sunday evening.
Sources within the palace disclosed that the traditional ruler fled during a heavy gun exchange between the kidnappers and vigilant groups who stormed the forests in a determined rescue effort.
According to the sources: “the vigilante team launched an attack on the bandits deep in the forests and engaged them in a fierce battle around the EkuIdaji area, close to Igbaja.
“Although the traditional ruler and the six other escapees have not yet to arrived in the community, they have made contact with members of the community who confirmed what happened,” he said.
It is worth recalling that earlier on Sunday, the bandits demanded a ransom of N150 million from the community before the monarch could be released.
