Gunmen abduct student, father in Ondo

GUNMEN suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday, abducted a student of the Nigerian Navy Secondar y School, Imeri, in Ose Local Council of Ondo State. The student, Jethro Onose, was kidnapped alongside his father, Maliki Onose, while returning to school after the three- week holiday.

The gunmen were said to have waylaid the victims along the Benin- Owo highway, which has been a notorious route for the activities of highway criminals. According to sources, the kidnappers struck on the Ondo State part of the highway, after which the father and son were whisked into the forest.

One of the sources, who craved anonymity, said the victims were on their way to Imeri from Edo State before they were attacked.

While calling on relevant authorities to ensure the presence of security operatives on the route, a commercial bus driver, Bode Ojo said the highway was no longer a busy route owing to the activities of criminals.

He said: "More Police operatives and Army should be drafted to the road, particularly within the Ondo axis. There is a heavy presence of police on the Edo part of the route, but when you get to the Ondo part, there are not many.

"Due to the activities of criminals on the road, it is no longer as busy as before. If there are more security personnel, these criminals will not be having a field day." Confirming the abduction, spokesperson for the state’s police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami- Omisanya, stated that effort has begun towards rescuing the victims.

She said: "We are working with the Navy to ensure victims are rescued and perpetrators arrested."