Four cocoa farmers have been abducted by gunmen at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in the Idi-Ayunre area of Ibadan, sparking fresh concerns over security in the state.
The assailants, reportedly six in number, struck on Wednesday, emerging from the bush to intercept a vehicle conveying the victims within the institute’s premises. It was gathered that some of the farmers were on a familiarisation visit at the time of the attack.
A survivor who escaped the incident said the gunmen ambushed them without warning as they made their way toward another section of the facility.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Ayanlade Olayinka, said one of the abducted victims had been rescued, while the vehicle used by the group was recovered.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, had deployed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams to the area to support ongoing operations.
According to him, security operatives have intensified search efforts through coordinated bush-combing operations aimed at rescuing the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators. The rescued victim, he noted, is safe and assisting with ongoing investigations.
The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, where attacks on farmers and travellers have become increasingly frequent.