By Michael Ofulue

A Navy Commander has been abducted along Owo Ikare Road by yet to be identified persons.
This came few days after an Army Captain was also picked up while traveling from Abuja around Auga/Ikaram road.
The Naval Officer whose identity was yet to be ascertained as at press time, was said to be travelling to Abuja when the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers emanated from the bush and abducted him along Ose/Oba Akoko road, in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Hope Metro learnt that the kidnappers are demanding N50 million ransom.
According to police sources, the abduction of the Naval Officer is coming days after the reported abduction and subsequent release of an Army Captain in the state by the same set of hoodlums terrorising the area.
Meanwhile, a military/police joint rescue team are already combing the bushes around the area of the incident in a bid to rescue the victim.
Information reaching The Hope Metro indicated that the Commanding Officer of 323 Artillery Brigade Command in Ondo State had visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation.
This development appeared to be a disturbing reoccurring decimal of spate of kidnappings in Auga/ Akunnu, Ose /Oba area in Akoko North East and Ose Local Government Areas of Ondo State in recent times.
The menance is taking a toll on the road as travellers are now afraid to travel on the road, despite the heavy presence of policemen mounting various checkpoints.
The Hope Metro learnt that in the past three months, no fewer than 10 cases of abduction had been reported to police on various attacks resulting from kidnapping and armed robbery cases.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro who confirmed the story said various tactical squads have been deployed to man the area.
He explained that the police have sought the support of the host communities in a bid to checkmate and curtail crime on the said road.
The PPRO, however, enjoined all and sundry, especially travellers to be security conscious while on transit, adding that the job of effective crime prevention, detection and control is for everybody and not for the police alone.