Gunmen have attacked Ayede Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, abducting a pregnant woman identified as Mrs Mary Jesulayomi.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening when the assailants stormed the community, located a few metres from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Akure, and began firing sporadically into the air, causing panic among residents.
A viral video seen on Wednesday showed an elderly resident, Pa Ogunleye Mese, narrating that the gunmen invaded the area around 7pm and attempted to abduct him and his wife. He said they managed to escape, but the pregnant woman, who had come to buy items from their shop, was seized.
“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,” he said. “My wife later escaped, but they took the pregnant woman away.”
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said security operatives had been deployed to the area to rescue the victim.
“A kidnapping incident occurred yesterday at about 7:40pm at Ayede Community, near Alagbaka Extension, Akure, where one Mrs Mary Jesulayomi was abducted,” he said.
Jimoh added that an 85-year-old woman, Mrs Ogunleye Mese, was also kidnapped but later released, while her husband, 90-year-old Pa Ogunleye Mese, sustained injuries during the attack.
He said the police command had deployed tactical teams to the area, noting that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted woman and apprehend those responsible.
