Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted four cocoa farmers on Wednesday at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) located in the Idi-Ayunre area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to reports, the victims were visiting the institute for a familiarisation exercise when the attackers struck.
A cocoa farmer who escaped the attack recounted that the armed men suddenly emerged from the surrounding bush and intercepted the vehicle conveying the farmers as they were heading toward the Nursing Section of the institute.
The assailants reportedly whisked away four of the occupants, leaving others stranded at the scene.
Confirming the incident in a text message to a reporter of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said security operatives had already made progress in the rescue operation.
Olayinka disclosed that one of the abducted victims had been successfully rescued and the victim’s vehicle recovered by security operatives.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, had immediately ordered the deployment of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams to support the Divisional Police Officer in Idi-Ayunre in the rescue efforts.
According to him, the police have commenced an intensive bush-combing operation aimed at tracking down the kidnappers and rescuing the remaining victims.
“The rescued victim is currently in safe custody and undergoing debriefing,” the police spokesperson said.
He further assured residents that security agencies were working tirelessly to secure the release of the other abducted farmers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects as the search operation continues across the surrounding forest areas.
