Gunmen Invade Oyo Community Again, Abduct Medical Doctor

Gun-wielding hoodlums have again stormed the Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted a man identified only as Dr Rasheed.
The latest abduction came barely 72 hours after kidnappers released Christopher Bakare, who is the supervisor of a farm owned by the late ex-governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Rasheed is said to have a private clinic where he treats patients from the communities in the area.
His abduction was said to have caused panic among residents and farmers in the area.
An account disclosed that the gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded his clinic at around 9pm last Friday and whisked him away, while another version indicated that he was waylaid on the highway and taken away by his captors.
The abduction was said to have been reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Orile Igbon where police were said to have swung into action.
The Tide learnt that residents were now living in fear due to incidents of kidnapping in the area in recent times.
A source said, “Kidnapping is now happening in the area and government security agencies should curb it quickly.
“Akala farms’ supervisor was kidnapped last week and this latest one happened just after the supervisor was released.  How can farmers who work in the bush go there now? Kidnappers have turned the place into their theatre of operations and the government should come to our aid”.
The state police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident and said that an investigation had begun into the incident.
“Investigation is in progress. Update will be provided accordingly”, Osifeso assured.
Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, has called on the people of the state to continue maintaining peace and keep praying for the same in the state.
Lawal, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, said this last Friday after the Jumat prayer at the Oja’ba Central Mosque, Ibadan.
He said, “This administration is for peace and there is no other way we can achieve that or continue to achieve that except by prayers. Nigeria is in turmoil – banditry, kidnapping and all sorts of crimes. If you isolate Oyo State, you will discover that the crime rate here is at its lowest ebb and we want to maintain that.
“There is no other thing we can aspire to achieve if security is not there. As Muslims, we must continue to pray for stability, peace and prosperity”.