A whiff of anger, fear and condemnation swept through the length and breadth of Ondo State yesterday following the hostage taking of another Polytechnic staff, a couple and their in-law by daring kidnappers in the state.

The victims, which include a lecturer at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Mr. Micheal O.  Olopete, a Senior Staff of Agricultural Development Project, ADP, Mr. Bunmi Falodun, his wife, a staff of RUWASA and her sister whose name could not be confirmed at press time were abducted at various spots within 48 hours.

The latest abduction is coming on the heels of last week’s kidnapping of another staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Mr. Taiwo Akinyemi who was killed for the inability of his relations to remit the ransom demanded by his abductors.

The Hope reliably gathered that the trio were returning from a social event when they were ambushed and abducted by the kidnappers at an unnamed spots in Ose Local Government.

Apprehension has gripped the family and relations of the abducted couple as their abductors are yet to contact them for the conditions for their release.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the couple’s ill-fated SUV red jeep in which they rode to the outing has been removed by the police from the abduction spot to their station in Ifon, Ose local government.

Several relations of the abducted couple where seen milling around the anti-kidnapping office of the police yesterday in Akure full of anxiety for their loved ones.

The Hope correspondent also learnt that three different cases of kidnapping and armed robbery were recorded on the Ogbese/Ilu-Abo axis on the Owo/Akure road on Saturday during which many travellers were reportedly subjected to attack by gunmen who shot sporadically to intimidate their victims.

unconfirmed reports said some kids and those who were unlucky to get out of their vehicles were taken away by the kidnappers.

A lecturer, Dr. Rahman Abubakri who teaches at RUGIPO said escaped by the whiskers after narrowly escaping from the gun wielding men.

The abduction of Mr. Olopete who heads the Marketing department of the institution along Utelu road in the ancient town sent fears down the spine of students and lecturers when the news filtered to the institution who saw the abduction as a cut too many.

The Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Mr. Banji Alabi, said the Polytechnic would not succumb to blackmail that would disrupt its academic programmes and calendar.

He appealed to the polytechnic community to exercise patience with a promise that necessary steps were being taken to free Olopete and to protect both the students and lecturers.

Alabi urged anybody who has useful information that could assist the law enforcement agencies to do so.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph said his command was on top of the situation.