Gunmen abduct groom, best man in Ondo

Suspected gunmen have reportedly abducted a groom, Moses Yakubu, his bride, best man and two other friends at Akunnu in Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State few hours to their engagement.



It was learnt that the couple and three others were returning from Okene in Kogi State, to Akure, the state capital, for their engagement ceremony scheduled for yesterday when their vehicle was seized at gun point at Akunnu.

The father of the bride, Ahmed Amodu, who confirmed the incident, said the bride and her younger sister were later set free by the suspected kidnappers.

The hoodlums reportedly held the groom and the other two male and female friends hostage.


It was learnt that the engagement was scheduled to hold yesterday afternoon at Aule Quarters on Agagu Road in Akure.

The engagement venue was said to be in pensive mood as guests and the two families called for the assistance of security agents to rescue the bride, the groom and others held in captivity.

The bride was said to have been in distress since the incident happened.

Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said policemen had been deployed in the area to comb the forest and rescue the victims.

Joseph said the command would end incessant kidnapping in Akoko, especially with its Kogi and Edo states’ neighbouring towns and villages.

According to him, the Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju was meeting top officers of the command on strategies to tackle kidnappingsin Akoko area

Penultimate Sunday, four Akure-bound passengers from Ikare-Akoko were kidnapped on the Owo-Oba-Ikare-Akunnu Road, while a Pastor, who resisted being abducted by the gunmen, was killed on the spot.