Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Wednesday, shot a security personnel and one other person dead while they abducted two persons at a farm in Awo village, Orile-Imo in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The kidnappers reportedly also shot dead a So-Safe Corps Area Commander, identified as Ogunrinde Saheed and a native of the village.
The kidnappers were said to have appeared in camouflage and invaded the farm which had over 200 workers.
They were reportedly trailed by operatives of a joint operation of police and So-Safe Corps.
A resident of the village who pleaded anonymity said the incident happened on Tuesday night.
The source said the kidnappers attempted to kidnap many workers on the farm but, were resisted by the security. However, they were able to abduct two workers and killed three.
Confirming the incident, the Commander of So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzalo said his men joined the operation to salvage the situation after the kidnappers had invaded the village.
He said, “A distressed call was made to Owode Area Command by the DPO Owode Division that two people were killed and two were kidnapped in Abule Awo, Orile-Imo on May 30, 2023.
“The Owode area command operation team led by SC Saheed Ogunrinde moved to the affected location to salvage the situation.
“On getting there, the joint operation was carried out by our men and Nigeria Police, all efforts to track the kidnappers proved abortive.
“The following morning (Wednesday) when our men resumed back with the police Owode division to search the location which led them to the interchange area.
“On sighting our men they opened fire and their bullet hit one of our men in the person of SC Saheed Ogunrinde (aka Ajura) the Area Operation Owode area command and he died.
Ganzalo said Ogunrinde’s body has been taken to his house at Ajura and buried while his rifle and phone were taken away by the kidnappers.
Ganzalo, however, said the unfortunate incident would not discourage his men from fighting the criminals.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi said one of the suspects has been arrested and that others were being trailed by operatives of the joint operation.
He said “A suspect has been arrested. They shot one and when he was taken to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, doctors did not attend to him. They said they were on strike, so, while they were taking him to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, he gave up the ghost.
“Two people were shot, one died on the spot and they kidnapped two, but, one suspect had been arrested in connection with the situation.”
