A 300-level Computer Engineering student of Al-Hikmah University, Igbaja in Kwara State, Akindoyo Gideon, has been reportedly abducted in the Irele council area of Ondo State.
Sources said that the victim was abducted at his parent’s farm located at Lumeko village located between Igbobini and Ode Irele Communities in Ese Odo and Irele council area of the state.
Gideon, it was learnt who travelled to meet with his parents and later went to the farm with his motorcycle to harvest cassava before he was reportedly abducted on the farm.
His motorcycle was later discovered on the farm while his whereabouts remained unknown
Meanwhile, in a statement by its leader, Henry Okunomo, the National Association of Nigerian Students urged the state security agencies to find the missing person.
The association, however, linked the missing of 30-year-old Gideon to the lingering communal crisis between Irele and Igbobini Communities, calling on the leaders of the two communities to find the missing student dead or alive.
Okunomo said that ” information gathered from the National President of Irele Local Government Students and a community leader Dr Adekugbe Erik, the student had travelled home to gather foodstuffs from his community, only to be abducted while working on his father’s farm.
“The community leader reported that the student’s disappearance coincided with an attack by the Igbobini community, resulting in destroyed homes and properties.
“We categorically demand that the leadership of both Irele and Igbobini communities produce the student, either dead or alive, within the next 72 hours
” Failure to do so will compel us to relocate the NANS secretariat to the affected communities, where we will remain until the student’s safe return is secured.”
According to them ” the safety and security of our members are non-negotiable, and we will not hesitate to take drastic action if our demands are not met.”
The mother of the abducted student, Mrs Janet Akindoyo, said the boy arrived in Irele on Sunday, June 10, and went to the farm to harvest the following day but he had not returned up to the time of filling this report.
” He has not returned, search party saw his motorcycle where he parked it but we haven’t seen him. I’m appealing to the security and the people to help find him,” she appealed.
When Contacted, the state Police image maker, Funmi Odunlami confirmed the abduction of the student
Odunlami said, “Our men are working in the forest in search of the person and investigation into the matter has begun.
