Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Saturday evening killed an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Segun Ayebulu while he was traveling along Oke Ako-Irele road in Ekiti State.
The attackers also abducted three persons after shooting the NSCDC officer and whisked them to an unknown destination, which fueled insinuation that the perpetrators were kidnappers.
Irele Ekiti located in Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, is a border town between Ekiti and Kwara states.
The Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that the man was traveling to his town in Ogbe, Yagba West Local Government area of Kogi State, when his vehicle was attacked by these gunmen.
“I can confirm to you that we lost one of our operatives on Saturday to some gunmen who fired gunshots at his vehicle while he was traveling to his Ogbe countryhome in Kogi State.
“We can also confirm to you that other occupants of the vehicle were also abducted, but I can’t confirm to you their exact number as I speak with you. We are still Investigating and we will release the comprehensive report to the public when it is ready.
“The deceased’s corpse has been deposited in the morgue in one of the hospitals in Ekiti here”.
The NSCDC spokesman confirmed that his men and officers in collaboration with the police and local hunters have started combing the sprawling forest between Kwara and Ekiti border with the intent to arrest the perpetrators.
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A prominent politician from the area, who craved anonymity, recounted to journalists on Sunday via telephone that the incident occured between 6.30 and 7pm on Saturday.
The source told newsmen that three other occupants of the vehicle conveying the deceased were kidnapped at gunpoint to an unknown location
He said the gunmen shot sporadically to stop the vehicle and the victim was said to have been hit on the head and chest by bullets when the driver tried to escape the scene.
The source revealed that some farmers that were returning from their farms to Oke -Ako, abandoned their bicycles and motorbikes and fled into the bush upon hearing the gunshots.
He said: “It was a sad event. One of the farmers confirmed to me that the gunmen hid beside the bush along that route and opened fire on the vehicle while trying to stop them.
“He also disclosed that the driver tried to escape; it was at that moment that the gunmen shot directly at the car and hit the NSCDC officer in the head and chest.
“Three other occupants of the vehicles were also dragged out of the vehicle and taken straight into the bush. This is the information we got from some farmers who hid inside the bush and watched the scene as it happened”.