Armed assailants kidnap six medical staff for the second time at Ondo health clinic

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…Victims robbed, abandoned not abducted- Police

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…We rescued abducted nurses in midnight operation- Amotekun

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…Released nurses forced to transfer money to kidnappers

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By Dayo Johnson, Akure

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Suspected gunmen have again abducted six health workers at the Ondo State Public Health Centre, PHC, in Akure, the state capital, early Saturday morning.

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The kidnappers, said to be heavily armed, invaded the health centre around 2:00 a.m. and forcefully gained entry into the premises.

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Eyewitnesses said the abductors rounded up health workers, including interns, who were on night duty, and bundled them into a waiting bus.

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A patient on admission at the health facility, who narrowly escaped, said the gunmen operated with precision and speed, leaving little room for resistance.

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According to the patient, “They came in a big bus and entered the hospital forcefully.

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“Before anyone could react, they gathered all the staff on duty and marched them outside. They took about six of them away.”

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“The abductors sped off to an unknown destination, throwing the community into confusion and distress.

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A source said that the victims that were able to transfer money to their captors after the took them into the bush were later released.

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The source told Vanguard that ” Three of the victims were released after they were forced to transfered money to the kidnappers account.

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Accordingto the source, ” The three released victims later called the local government council chairman, who immediately informed the state security outfit codenamed Amotekun commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye.

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However, there are different versions of how the three kidnapped nurses were rescued and whether the incident as a robbery or an abduction.

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While the state police command insisted it was a robbery attack, not abduction, the state security outfit, Amotekun, said it rescued three of the abducted nurses during a midnight operation.

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Amotekun commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, added that two other kidnapped victims, a father and his son, were also rescued by the security agency.

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Adetunji Adeleye, said that three of the six health workers and two other victims have been rescued from two separate overnight operations in Akure metropolis.

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He added that a 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old son were abducted at Pelebe in the our skit of Oda Akure road between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

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According to him, the victims were, however, rescued by the Rapid Response squad of Amotekun core about 1:00 a.m after heavy confrontation with the Kidnappers.

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On the abduction of the state government health workers, Adeleye said that “three health workers earlier abducted have also regained their freedom at about 4:30 am and are currently receiving treatment at the Amotekun health facility in the state capital.

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But the state police command spokesperson DSP Jimoh Abayomi, in a statement issued in Akure, described the incident at the state government health facility as a robbery case and not an abduction.

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Abayomi said the “robbery incident that occurred in the early hours of today at a Health Centre located in Oke Ijebu.

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According to him ” at about 2:00 a.m., three suspects allegedly armed with pump-action rifle and cutlasses, reportedly invaded the facility. The assailants gained access to the premises by scaling the perimeter fence.

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“During the incident, three persons who were on duty at the health facility were forcefully dispossessed of their personal belongings including mobile phones and a POS terminal.

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“The suspects reportedly arrived in a unregistered black Toyota Venza vehicle, which was parked along the main road before carrying out the operation.

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Abayomi said that “The victims were subsequently whisked away towards the Olokuta axis along Ondo Road.

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“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects ordered them to remove their clothing and subsequently abandoned them in the bush before fleeing the scene.

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” The victims however found resort from nearby staff of Correctional Service.

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He said that the state police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal “has visited the scene of the incident and has directed a comprehensive and intelligence-driven investigation into the matter.

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“Tactical and surveillance teams have been deployed to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.

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“The Command condemns this act of criminality in strong terms and wishes to reassure residents that adequate security measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.

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Abayomi said that ” Patrols have been intensified, and collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups has been strengthened to enhance safety across the state.

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