The Regent of Akungba-Akoko in the Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, was kidnapped on the Owo-Oba Akoko Expressway on Tuesday.
The news of the kidnap caused pandemonium on Wednesday as some leaders were said to have imposed a curfew on the community to allow initiates to perform some sacrifices to ensure the release of the Regent.
It was learnt that Omosowon and three of her aides were kidnapped on Tuesday. However, the police said on Wednesday that two of the aides had been released.
It was gathered that the kidnappers struck at about 3.30pm on the fateful day while the Regent and her aides were going to the Federal University of Technology, Akure, to attend an event.
According to the source, the car in which Omosowon was travelling in was waylaid by the abductors, who allegedly pointed guns at the driver and forced him to park.
It was gathered that after ordering all the occupants of the vehicle out, the kidnappers forced them to enter their vehicle and drove away.
The car was later found by the security men, abandoned on the road with its four doors opened, while the key was left in the ignition.
PUNCH Metro gathered that men of the Nigerian Army and the state police command later found two of the victims in a bush, but could not locate the regent and one other victim.
Expressing their displeasure over the ugly development on Wednesday, residents of the town trooped to the street, protesting against the abduction of their traditional ruler.
As a result of the demonstration, social and economic activities were paralysed as shops and markets were closed for several hours.
Addressing the protesters, the Caretaker Chairman for the LGA, Mr. Wale Suru, urged them to be calm, saying an emergency security meeting would be held to review the situation. He added that the report of the meeting would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for immediate action to release the Regent and her aide.
The Commissioner of Police for the state, Mr. Isaac Eke, confirmed that two of the kidnapped persons had regained their freedom, adding that his men had been mandated to secure the release of the Regent.
Eke said, “Two of the kidnapped persons have been released. All hands are on deck to secure the release of the monarch.”
The President of the Akungba Akoko Development Union, Dr. Lawrence Ekundayo, said the community condemned the act, adding that it was a disgrace to the residents.
Ekundayo, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said, “It is a condemnable act that has desecrated the royal throne of Akungba and the Akungba community. This is unacceptable to us.
“We want to use this medium to appeal to the kidnappers to release this humble woman. I just left the palace now and the situation in the town is very tense, but we have been appealing to our people not to take the law into their own hands because kidnapping is a national phenomenon. But it is an insult to the entire Akungba if somebody occupying the institution that symbolises Akungba could be abducted.”
Ekundayo said the kidnappers had not established contact with the community, adding, “Since they have not done that, there is nothing we can do to secure her release.”
Findings by our correspondents also showed that the incident paralysed academic activities in the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, as lectures were cancelled, while the management of the institution advised staff and students to be cautious.
A statement by the institution’s registrar, Bamidele Olotu, warned that members of staff with the university’s vehicles outside the campus should keep them in “protective custody”, while those that were still within the school premises should not be driven out.
Meanwhile, residents of the community had been told to stay indoors following a curfew imposed by the community to enable initiates to perform some rituals.
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