Suspected gunmen have abducted six health workers from a primary health facility in the Oke-Ijebu area of Akure, Ondo State, in a brazen early morning attack that has heightened fear among residents.
The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday when the assailants reportedly stormed the government-owned health centre, catching both staff and patients off guard. Witness accounts indicate that the attackers arrived in a vehicle—some reports say a bus—before forcefully gaining entry into the facility.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen quickly took control of the premises, rounding up medical personnel on duty, including nurses and interns, before whisking away at least six of them to an unknown destination. The operation was described as swift and coordinated, leaving little opportunity for resistance.
A patient who narrowly escaped the attack recounted that the gunmen acted with precision, gathering staff within minutes and fleeing the scene immediately after.
Security operatives under the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, launched a rapid response operation shortly after the incident. The Corps confirmed that three of the abducted health workers were rescued in the early hours of Saturday following a confrontation with the kidnappers.
According to the Amotekun Corps Commander, the rescued victims were freed around 4:30 a.m. and are currently receiving medical attention at a health facility.
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In a related development, security operatives also rescued two other victims—a 45-year-old man and his teenage son—who had been abducted earlier along the Oda-Akure Road corridor on Friday evening.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the remaining abducted health workers remain unknown, while security agencies have intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators.
The attack has triggered anxiety within the Oke-Ijebu community and raised fresh concerns about the safety of health workers and public facilities in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Residents have called for increased security presence and proactive intelligence measures to prevent further incidents.
