Gunmen have attacked Ayede Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, abducting a pregnant woman, identified as Mrs Mary Jesulayomi, during the assault.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when the armed assailants reportedly stormed the community, located a few metres from the Federal Secretariat Complex, Akure and fired sporadically into the air, throwing residents into panic.
A viral video sighted on Wednesday showed an elderly resident, Pa Ogunleye Mese, recounting how the gunmen invaded the area at about 7pm.
According to him, the attackers attempted to abduct him and his wife, but both managed to escape. However, the pregnant woman, who had come to buy items from their shop, was seized by the gunmen.
Speaking in the Akure dialect, Pa Mese said, “They came here yesterday evening and started shooting into the air. They came to my house and wanted to kidnap me, but I managed to escape. They initially abducted 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, Mr Abayomi Jimoh, said security operatives had been deployed to the area to rescue the victim.
He said, “A kidnapping incident occurred yesterday at about 7:40pm at Ayede Community, near Alagbaka Extension, Akure, where one Mrs Mary Jesulayomi was abducted.
“An 85-year-old woman, Mrs Ogunleye Mese, was also kidnapped but was later released, while her husband, a 90-year-old man, Pa Ogunleye Mese, sustained injuries in the process.
“The command has deployed tactical teams to the area, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.”