A police officer, Ezra John, has been abducted by gunmen in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
John, attached to the Lade Division, was reportedly taken in the early hours of yesterday while returning from an assignment at the Patigi General Hospital.
His motorcycle was later found abandoned along the Patigi–Lade road, a route that has become notorious for criminal attacks.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said tactical teams have been deployed to track down the kidnappers and rescue the officer.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The abduction has heightened concerns among locals about insecurity in Patigi and nearby communities.
Many stakeholders are now calling for stronger security measures to safeguard residents.
The incident occurred just days after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq declared that no part of Kwara would be safe for criminals.
He vowed that the state government, in collaboration with security forces, would “smoke out and eliminate” those threatening the peace of the state.