Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of Ago-Are community in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State following the abduction of a prominent farmer, Mr. Joel Oke, by armed gunmen.
Sources said, the incident, which occurred between late Saturday night and the early hours of Monday, has forced community leaders to close the popular Kraal market in the town to prevent further security breaches.
The Nation gathered that the gunmen stormed the residence of the farmer, whisking him away to an unknown destination and leaving the community in deep shock.
Speaking on the development, community leaders stated that the directive to shut the market became imperative as a proactive measure to forestall further attacks and guarantee the safety of lives and property.
They maintained that Ago-Are has been a peaceful community that thrives on unity, warning that residents will not tolerate any form of criminal elements disrupting the peace of the land.
Youths have condemned the abduction, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Oke without the payment of any ransom.
In a show of solidarity, the leadership of the Miyetti Allah and the Fulani community in Ago-Are have backed the closure of the market.
They expressed their readiness to cooperate fully with local authorities and security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the victim.
While calling for calm, community leaders urged residents not to panic but to remain highly vigilant and report any suspicious movements or activities within their neighborhoods to security operatives.
The spokesman of the state Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the development, saying: “The police are intensifying efforts to rescue the abductee.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
