The Kwara State Police Command, on Friday, confirmed the abduction of five persons on transit from Osi to Obbo Aiyegunle in Kwara South Senatorial District of the state.

According to the spokesman of the command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement in Ilorin, the captives include the driver of the Olobbo of Obbo Aiyegunle, simply identified as Kunle; the monarch’s security aide, named Lawrence Abiodun; and his maid, identified as Bukunmi Akanbi.

Others are the monarch’s six-year-old twin girls, Taiwo and Kehinde.

The monarch, Oba Samuel Adelodun, personally reported the incident to the police which occurred at about 1830 hours on Thursday.

The police spokesman said the five victims were kidnapped by unknown gunmen while the monarch’s Toyota Sienna minivan, with registration number bearing Owalobo of Obbo Aiyegunle which was conveying the victims, was abandoned on the road.

“On receipt of the information, the state Police Commissioner, Amienbo Tuesday Assayomo, dispatched the anti-kidnapping and other tactical units of the command alongside local hunters to immediately commence a search and rescue operation in the area for possible arrest of the abductors and safe rescue of the victims,” the statement added.

The Commissioner advised members of the public to provide useful information that could aid the quick rescue of the victims.

He urged citizens to avoid movements in isolated and lonely routes at odd hours of the day while assuring the security of lives and the safety of citizens and residents in the state.