Ondo Man ∆bducted By Gunmen F0und In Osun Forest, Recounts Ordeal In Hands Of Att∆ckers

 

 

Ondo Man Abducted By Gunmen Found In Osun Forest, Recounts Ordeal In Hands Of Attackers

The development brought relief to the Fawehinmi family, which had spent an agonising 72 hours searching for him following an attack by suspected armed hoodlums on the family farmland in Ondo.

A man, Adeoye Fawehinmi, from the Fawehinmi family in Ondo town, Ondo State who was abducted during a violent attack on the family farmland, has been found in a forest in neighbouring Osun State.

This was after he reportedly endured severe torture and spent nearly two days in the forests.

Adeoye was reportedly found in the early hours of Monday around Ifetedo, Osun State, after he managed his way out of the forest and sought assistance from residents who helped him contact his family.

The development brought relief to the Fawehinmi family, which had spent an agonising 72 hours searching for him following an attack by suspected armed hoodlums on the family farmland in Ondo.

In an account released on Monday, the family lawyer, Akinbinu Olufemi, described the emotional reunion and detailed Adeoye’s account of his abduction, alleged torture and eventual escape.

The lawyer expressed appreciation to members of the public who had prayed for the family and supported its search for the missing man.

According to the account, the family’s ordeal ended when Pastor Olanrewaju Fawehinmi received a telephone call at about 1am informing him that Adeoye had been found alive.

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The lawyer explained that attempts to secure armed police escorts proved unsuccessful because the location provided by the callers was across the state boundary in Osun.

With the police unable to accompany them, the pastor and another person embarked on the journey to the location provided by the callers.

On arriving in the area, they encountered local hunters who had assisted Adeoye and were waiting with him.

Describing the reunion, the lawyer stated: “Nothing replaces joy in a man heart. The reunion was ecstatic, even the hunters shed tears of joy for us.”

The hunters reportedly insisted that the family visit a police station in Osun State before leaving with Adeoye.

However, after hearing their concerns about his injuries and urgent need for medical attention, officers at the station reportedly advised them to take him to a hospital.

The family subsequently stopped at a police station in Ondo before taking Adeoye to a hospital, where treatment commenced immediately.

According to the lawyer, a Divisional Crime Officer subsequently visited the hospital on Monday morning to obtain Adeoye’s statement, during which he narrated the circumstances surrounding his abduction.

Adeoye reportedly told the police that he and other members of his family were on their farmland when information reached them that armed hoodlums had invaded Ago’ta, an adjoining farming settlement.

He alleged that the attackers, numbering about 50, were armed with guns, axes, cutlasses and daggers and had unleashed violence on residents.

The victim identified a former labourer of the Fawehinmi family, Taju Oguntoye, as the alleged leader of the attackers, alongside other individuals whom he accused of participating in the invasion.

According to his account, the gunmen subsequently stormed Ogbomoso Camp, where he and his brother, Femi Fawehinmi, were attempting to understand the situation.

Both men allegedly attempted to escape but were overpowered.

Adeoye said the attackers descended on them, beating them severely before abducting him on a motorcycle.

He explained that his abductors initially took him to a junction along the Ondo-Ife Road, where he requested drinking water because he was severely dehydrated.

After he was allowed to drink, the attackers reportedly directed him towards a particular path, warning him against approaching the police.

Adeoye said he initially believed he had regained his freedom and planned to escape through the bush towards Pele, from where he hoped to reach Fagun Police Station.

However, his hopes were shattered when another motorcycle carrying suspected members of the gang intercepted him.

According to his account, one of the attackers displayed a pistol and dagger, compelling him to mount the motorcycle.

The men subsequently drove him along Epe Road while repeatedly assaulting him.

Adeoye alleged that one of the attackers struck him with a flat object, leaving him disoriented and barely conscious.

He further alleged that his abductors accused him of having an affair with their leader’s girlfriend and demanded that he admit responsibility for her pregnancy.

Despite denying the allegation and explaining that he was married, the attackers allegedly continued beating him.

The victim said the assault eventually became so severe that he lost consciousness and could no longer remember what happened afterwards.

He reportedly regained consciousness in an unfamiliar forest, severely injured, confused and unable to determine whether he was alive or dead.

However, he subsequently heard the sounds of heavy vehicles passing in the distance and began crawling towards them.

After reaching a tarred road, he continued walking until he noticed lights and signs of human activity.

The lawyer explained that Adeoye’s appearance was so disturbing that the first people he encountered initially mistook him for a mentally unstable person and attempted to flee.

Adeoye subsequently asked the residents for the time and was informed that it was already past 1am on Monday.

Still struggling to understand his situation, he asked the residents where he was and was informed that he had wandered into Ifetedo in Osun State.

He immediately begged them to allow him to telephone his family.

According to the lawyer, one of the residents agreed to dial the number but initially refused to hand over his telephone.

Adeoye eventually succeeded in contacting his family, bringing an end to their desperate search.

The lawyer said the family was grateful that Adeoye had survived the attack and received medical attention after his rescue.

The latest development follows an earlier reported attack on the Fawehinmi family’s farms at Aboba and Ogbomoso camps, during which armed men allegedly assaulted several residents, severely injured Femi Fawehinmi and abducted Adeoye.