Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Monday abducted a student of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Imeri, in Ose Local Council Area of Ondo State.
The student, Jethro Onose, was kidnapped along with his father, Maliki Onose, while returning to school after the three-week holiday.
The gunmen were said to have waylaid the victims along the Benin-Owo highway, which has been a notorious route for the activities of highway criminals.
According to sources, the kidnappers struck on the Ondo State part of the highway, after which the father and son were whisked into the forest.
One of the sources who craved anonymity disclosed that the victims were on their way to Imeri from Edo State before they were attacked.
While calling on relevant authorities to ensure the presence of security operatives on the route, a commercial bus driver who gave his name as Bode Ojo stated that the highway is no longer a busy route due to the activities of criminals.
He said: “More operatives of the police and army should be drafted to the road, particularly within the Ondo axis. There is a heavy presence of police on the Edo part of the route, but when you get to the Ondo part, there are not as many as in Edo.
“Due to the activities of criminals on the road, the road is no longer as busy as before. If there are more security personnel, these criminals will not be having a field day.”
Confirming the abduction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stated that effort has begun towards rescuing the victims.
The PPRO added that “we are working with the navy to ensure victims are rescued and perpetrators arrested.”
