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Suspected gunmen have again abducted six health workers at the Ondo State Public Health Centre, PHC, in Akure, the state capital, early Saturday morning.
The kidnappers, said to be heavily armed, invaded the health centre around 2:00 a.m. and forcefully gained entry into the premises.
Eyewitnesses said the abductors rounded up health workers, including interns, who were on night duty, and bundled them into a waiting bus.
A patient on admission at the health facility, who narrowly escaped, said the gunmen operated with precision and speed, leaving little room for resistance.
According to the patient, “They came in a big bus and entered the hospital forcefully.
“Before anyone could react, they gathered all the staff on duty and marched them outside. They took about six of them away.”
“The abductors sped off to an unknown destination, throwing the community into confusion and distress.
A source said that the victims that were able to transfer money to their captors after the took them into the bush were later released.
The source told Vanguard that ” Three of the victims were released after they were forced to transfered money to the kidnappers account.
According to the source, ” The three released victims later called the local government council chairman, who immediately informed the state security outfit codenamed Amotekun commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye.
However, there are different versions of how the three kidnapped nurses were rescued and whether the incident as a robbery or an abduction.
While the state police command insisted it was a robbery attack, not abduction, the state security outfit, Amotekun, said it rescued three of the abducted nurses during a midnight operation.
Amotekun commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, added that two other kidnapped victims, a father and his son, were also rescued by the security agency.
Adetunji Adeleye, said that three of the six health workers and two other victims have been rescued from two separate overnight operations in Akure metropolis.
He added that a 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old son were abducted at Pelebe in the our skit of Oda Akure road between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
According to him, the victims were, however, rescued by the Rapid Response squad of Amotekun core about 1:00 a.m after heavy confrontation with the Kidnappers.
On the abduction of the state government health workers, Adeleye said that “three health workers earlier abducted have also regained their freedom at about 4:30 am and are currently receiving treatment at the Amotekun health facility in the state capital.
But the state police command spokesperson DSP Jimoh Abayomi, in a statement issued in Akure, described the incident at the state government health facility as a robbery case and not an abduction.
Abayomi said the “robbery incident that occurred in the early hours of today at a Health Centre located in Oke Ijebu.
According to him ” at about 2:00 a.m., three suspects allegedly armed with pump-action rifle and cutlasses, reportedly invaded the facility. The assailants gained access to the premises by scaling the perimeter fence.
“During the incident, three persons who were on duty at the health facility were forcefully dispossessed of their personal belongings including mobile phones and a POS terminal.
“The suspects reportedly arrived in a unregistered black Toyota Venza vehicle, which was parked along the main road before carrying out the operation.
Abayomi said that “The victims were subsequently whisked away towards the Olokuta axis along Ondo Road.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects ordered them to remove their clothing and subsequently abandoned them in the bush before fleeing the scene.
” The victims however found resort from nearby staff of Correctional Service.
He said that the state police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal “has visited the scene of the incident and has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation into the matter.
“Tactical and surveillance teams have been deployed to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.
“The Command condemns this act of criminality in strong terms and wishes to reassure residents that adequate security measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Abayomi said that ” Patrols have been intensified, and collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups has been strengthened to enhance safety across the state.
