Armed men on Tuesday evening invaded Ayede Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, kidnapping a pregnant woman, Mary Jesulayomi, after firing gunshots indiscriminately that threw residents into panic.
The community, located just a few metres from the Federal Secretariat complex in Akure, was reportedly attacked around 7pm when the hoodlums stormed the area and began shooting into the air, forcing residents to flee for safety.
In a viral video sighted by Trumpets on Wednesday, an elderly resident, Pa Ogunleye Mese, narrated how the attackers attempted to abduct him and his wife but were unsuccessful.
Speaking in Akure dialect, the old man said the gunmen initially seized his wife and the pregnant woman, who had come to their shop to buy items. While his wife managed to escape, the pregnant woman was taken away by the assailants.
“They came here yesterday evening and started shooting sporadically into the air,” Pa Mese said in the video. “They wanted to kidnap me, but I escaped. They took my wife and a pregnant woman who came to buy something in our shop. My wife later escaped, but they took the pregnant woman away.”
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the abduction occurred around 7:40pm at Ayede Community near Alagbaka Extension, Akure.
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According to him, Mrs Mary Jesulayomi was kidnapped during the attack, while an 85-year-old woman who was also abducted was later released. He added that Pa Ogunleye Mese, said to be about 90 years old, sustained injuries during the incident.
“A kidnap case occurred yesterday around 7.40pm at Ayede Community near Alagbaka Extension, Akure, where one Mrs Mary Jesulayomi was captured and taken away,” Jimoh said. “An 85-year-old woman was also kidnapped but later released, while her husband suffered injuries.”
The police spokesperson said tactical teams had been deployed to the area and efforts were ongoing to rescue the kidnapped pregnant woman and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
