Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted workers of the Federal Medical Centre and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic both in Owo along the Akure-Owo expressway.
The health workers and the polytechnic staff were kidnapped at the failed portion of the Emure – Ile/Owo road, a few drive away from the state capital, Akure.
The health workers were identified as a medical doctor, nurse and a record officer with the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.
Colleagues of the kidnapped health workers confirmed the sad incident to journalists in Akure, Ondo state capital on Wednesday.
One of their colleagues who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that the victims were stopped on the road by the abductors before they were kidnapped and taken away.
She added that the kidnappers had already contacted the family of the abducted medical workers and are demanding the sum of N50 million as ransom.
“Three of our staff here in the FMC were kidnapped on Wednesday by some gunmen while on their way to work although we have also reported the incident to the police in the state.
“Those that were kidnapped are – a medical doctor with the hospital, a nurse and a record officer whose identity I can only remember and she is Josephine Fanikasi.
“They were abducted at Emure-Ile and l learnt that the abductors who are heavily armed with guns are all Fulani due to their poor grammar.
“They have contacted the family of the three victims and they are even demanding N50 million as ransom before they can be released,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Femi Joseph also confirmed the incident, noting that the victims were travelling when they were kidnapped.
Joseph added that the victims were waylaid by the armed hoodlums on the Akure/Emure-Ile/Owo road and were whisked into the heavy bush.
His words: “I can confirm that the story is true but I only know about just one FMC staff who was kidnapped while the others are a staff of the polytechnic in Owo who were travelling.
“But our boys are on their trail and they have started combing the bush with a view to rescuing these kidnap victims alive.
“Also, let me assure you that we will arrest the criminals who carried out this job and we will ensure they are brought to book.”
He noted that police in the state had already swung into action and commenced investigation with the view to rescuing the kidnapped victims.
The PPRO also advised family members of the kidnapped victims to cooperate with the police in its investigation in ensuring the rescue of the victims.
