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No fewer than four cocoa farmers were abducted at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in the Idi-Ayunre area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the cocoa farmers were abducted by gunmen who were about six in number. NAN reported that some of the kidnapped victims were at the institute for a familiarisation visit.
A cocoa farmer who fled the scene recounted that the gunmen appeared from the bush and ambushed them while they were on their way to the Nursing Section at the institute.
The Oyo State Police Command Spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident in a text message sent to NAN on Wednesday.
“Efforts are on to rescue the remaining victims and arrest the perpetrators,” said Olayinka.
The police spokesperson said one of the four kidnapped victims had been successfully rescued, and his vehicle had been recovered.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, had directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alongside other tactical teams, to reinforce the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Idi-Ayunre.
The PPRO added that police operatives have embarked on an intensive bush combing operation, adding that the rescued victim was currently in safe custody and undergoing debriefing.
