Four farmers have been abducted by suspected gunmen at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) located in Idi-Ayunre area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Residents and staff members of the institute said the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, March 18, when about six armed men invaded the premises.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victims — all cocoa farmers — were visiting the institute for a familiarisation exercise when the attackers struck.
One of the farmers who managed to escape said the gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, emerged suddenly from a nearby bush.
The attackers reportedly intercepted the farmers’ vehicle while they were heading towards the Nursing Section of the institute and launched the assault, leading to the abduction.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said one of the kidnapped victims has been successfully rescued.
He also disclosed that the vehicle used by the farmers has been recovered.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Femi Haruna, has ordered an immediate security reinforcement in the area.
The police said the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams of the Nigeria Police Force have been deployed to support the Divisional Police Officer in Idi-Ayunre.
Security operatives have since launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation in nearby forest areas to secure the release of the remaining victims.
“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Olayinka stated.
The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity affecting farmers and agricultural institutions in Nigeria.
Attacks on farmers not only threaten lives but also pose risks to food production and agricultural research efforts across the country.
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