The Ondo State Security Network, also known as the Amotekun Corps, has rescued two Fulani herdsmen who were abducted by their fellow herdsmen.
The Commander of the corps in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the development. He identified the victims as Musa Ibrahim and Amidu Ibrahim.
Adeleye revealed that the victims were abducted by a gang of herdsmen in Supare Akoko, in the Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state a few days back.
He explained that the kidnappers were about to slaughter them when his men arrived at the scene.
Adeleye, however, disclosed that a member of the gang, Sidi Amodu, was arrested.
According to the Amotekun boss, when the operatives stormed the scene, the hoodlums, numbering about seven, fled, leaving behind Amodu, who was sleeping at the time.
He said, “This is a case of herdsmen being kidnapped by fellow Fulani men. The two victims rescued by the Amotekun Corps are Musa Ibrahim and Amidu Ibrahim; they are siblings and they are herdsmen. “They were kidnapped in Supare Akoko and valuables were taken from them after the kidnap operation. They were tied and about to be slaughtered by fellow Fulani men before our men got wind of it. We penetrated the forest where they were hiding and we were able to apprehend one of the criminals.
“He confessed to the crime and said the gang was a group of seven and that they migrated into the state from Benin and Kogi states. He said the last kidnap they did involved eight people. He said they all scattered when the Amotekun men came, in order not to be arrested.
“The suspected kidnapper, Sidi Amodu, claimed he came from Kogi for the purpose of the kidnap and that they hired cows as a cover-up because they were not the real owners of the cows.
“He said they operated in some bad portions of the roads in Ajowa Akoko, Akunnu, and Supare areas of the state.” However, the suspect, Amodu, said the gang moved with hired cows from Okenne, Kogi State, to Ondo State to perpetrate crimes while disguised as herdsmen.
He also confessed that they robbed at some bad spots in Akunnu Akoko, Supare Akoko, and Ajowa Akoko, but the two brothers were kidnapped for the purpose of ransom.
The victims, however, noted that they were beaten and tortured by the hoodlums.
Musa said, “They tortured us and told us to call our relatives to bring ransom to release us or they would kill us. They beat us and were about to kill us when the Amotekun men arrived in the forest.”