Gunmen have attacked Ayede Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, abducting a pregnant woman, identified as Mrs Mary Jesulayomi, during the assault.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when the armed assailants reportedly stormed the community—located a few metres from the Federal Secretariat Complex, Akure—and fired sporadically into the air, throwing residents into panic.

A viral video sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday showed an elderly resident, Pa Ogunleye Mese, recounting how the gunmen invaded the area at about 7pm.

According to him, the attackers attempted to abduct him and his wife, but both managed to escape. However, the pregnant woman, who had come to buy items from their shop, was seized by the gunmen.

Speaking in the Akure dialect, Pa Mese said, “They came here yesterday evening and started shooting into the air. They came to my house and wanted to kidnap me, but I managed to escape. They initially abducted my wife and a pregnant woman who came to buy something in our shop.

“My wife later escaped, but they took the pregnant woman away.”

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Abayomi Jimoh, said security operatives had been deployed to the area to rescue the victim.

He said, “A kidnapping incident occurred yesterday at about 7:40pm at Ayede Community, near Alagbaka Extension, Akure, where one Mrs Mary Jesulayomi was abducted.

“An 85-year-old woman, Mrs Ogunleye Mese, was also kidnapped but was later released, while her husband, a 90-year-old man, Pa Ogunleye Mese, sustained injuries in the process.

“The command has deployed tactical teams to the area, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.”

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The Police Special Fraud Unit has cautioned intending travellers to strictly adhere to due process when applying for travel visas.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the spokesperson of PSFU, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, cautioned intending travellers against scams.

Ewhubare urged members of the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters’ activities.

NAN reports that scammers in the country have increasingly targeted visa applicants by posing as embassy officials or agents, using fake websites and urgent messages to demand quick payments.

The fraudsters often promise guaranteed visa approvals or faster processing and request payments through personal bank accounts, gift cards, or other unofficial channels.

Recently, the Police Command in Lagos State apprehended a syndicate in the Ago-Okota area of the state, for allegedly defrauding members of the public of over N500 million.

The suspects, aged 23, 25, 27 and 36, were apprehended following credible intelligence and multiple complaints from victims.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects operated under the guise of an educational consultancy.

They allegedly defrauded more than 100 victims of over N500 million under the false pretense of facilitating Canadian and Australian work visas.

The DSP warned visa applicants to be wary of individuals or agents who claimed they could guarantee visas, promise unusually fast processing, or demand payments through unofficial channels.

“Genuine visa applications are processed only through recognised Embassies, High Commissions, or their authorised platforms.

“The public should be cautious of unsolicited messages, emails, or social media contacts offering visa assistance, particularly where there is pressure to act quickly or provide personal details,” he said.

According to him, requests for upfront fees without proper documentation or instructions to submit false information are strong indicators of visa-related scams.

Ewhubare encouraged intending travellers to verify all visa-related information directly from official embassy websites, or government-approved agents, and to promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.

The spokesperson said that following due process remained the most effective way to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Maj.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Monday, said terrorists and kidnappers now live in cannabis-growing communities.

Marwa made the statement in Akure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State ahead of the Alternative Development Project campaign targeted at engaging illicit drug growers in the state.

He said the agency created the Alternative Development Project unit to discourage peasant farmers from growing illicit drugs, especially cannabis sativa.

According to him, the programme, which will not stop the enforcement role of the agency, is another way to combat terrorists and other criminals who now stay close to where illicit drugs are produced.

Marwa said drug use prevalence in Nigeria was unacceptably high, with about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 using drugs, based on the 2018 United Nations drug use survey.

He said the figure meant that one in seven Nigerians within the age bracket use drugs, adding that the Alternative Development Project campaign would commence in Ondo State.

The NDLEA chairman said the agency had convicted 128 drug barons in the last five years and disclosed that of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances seized within the same period, over 75 per cent was cannabis sativa.

According to him, between 70 and 75 per cent of drug users in Nigeria consume cannabis sativa.

“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers — in fact, the kidnappers now, through our intelligence sources, have been shown to live among the cannabis-cultivating communities in the deep forests.

“And that makes sense to them. Why not establish a base where the drugs are readily available?

“In Ondo State, the drug use prevalence is 17 per cent, which is approximately 400,000.

“In 2025, the NDLEA in Ondo State made 336 arrests, with seizures of 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances, convicted 62 offenders, seized and destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis from plantations and farms.

“We have a counselling and rehabilitation centre here; we have treated 243 people. But more significantly, Your Excellency, Ondo State is the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria for several reasons, including the climate and the nature of the soil. It encourages this type of trade,” he said.

Marwa, who appreciated the governor for his efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, said the agency was carefully reviewing its law-enforcement strategy and had decided to adopt alternative approaches instead of constant raids and arrests.

In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa applauded Marwa for leading the initiative under his office.

Aiyedatiwa praised the NDLEA boss for his efforts and commitment toward ensuring that society is rid of illicit drugs.

“We, as government, will support you in any way that we can to ensure that we achieve the needed success. We will look into the direction of having our own alternative development programme like yours,” he said. (NAN)