RismadarVoice Reporters, July 22, 2026
Two farmers have been abducted by suspected gunmen in Ifira, an agrarian community in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding a ransom of N10 million for their release.
According to community sources, the victims were ambushed while travelling to their farmland before being forcefully taken into a nearby forest by the attackers.
A family member of one of the abducted farmers confirmed that the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.
The relative disclosed that the kidnappers had established contact with the families and were demanding N10 million to secure the victims’ freedom.
“We have reported the incident to the police and the Amotekun Corps in our area. We are pleading with the security agencies and the government to help rescue our brothers safely,” the family member said.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the command received a report of two missing persons at the Isua Akoko Divisional Police Headquarters.
Abayomi stated that a joint security operation had been launched to locate and rescue the victims. The team comprises personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers.
He said security operatives had been deployed to the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest corridor, where intensive search and rescue operations are currently underway.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.
The police spokesperson, however, clarified that the command had not received any official information regarding a ransom demand linked to the abduction.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any ransom demand in connection with this incident,” he added.
Abayomi appealed to residents and members of the public with credible information that could assist the ongoing operation to come forward, assuring that all information provided would be handled confidentially.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to ensuring the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack, while urging residents to remain calm, vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with timely information.
