A couple billed to officially wed coming weekend were on Sunday kidnapped by gunmen along the Ilasa Ekiti-Ayebode Ekiti Road in the Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
Sources said the two were returning from Ado Ekiti, the state capital, where they had gone to purchase some commodities in preparation for their wedding when they were accosted by the hoodlums.
The sources said shortly after the gunmen whisked the lovers to an unknown destination, they made phone calls to their families and demanded N5m ransom.
A source said, “The victims were preparing for their wedding. They went to Ado Ekiti to purchase some items and were returning to their base when they were accosted on the road by the gunmen who kidnapped them.
“They were waylaid at a very bad portion of the road where the vehicle slowed down. The deplorable conditions of our roads are opportunities for these kidnappers to strike most times.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, said three suspects had been arrested over the abduction.
He said, “Immediately we got the report, the Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Mobayo, mobilised our men and officers to surrounding forests.
“As I speak, our men are working in conjunction with the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilance groups in combing the forests to free the victims.”
Abutu, who noted that the arrested suspects were being detained at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti, added that they would be arraigned at the end of investigations.