The police command in Ondo says it has arrested one suspect in connection with the abduction of a tipper driver, Tobi Abdulmalik Oluwatuyi.

Mr Oluwatuyi was kidnapped by gunmen on Friday at Ilu-Abo, along the Akure/Owo Expressway in Akure North LGA.

DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the abduction on Saturday, “Yes, it is true that a tipper driver was kidnapped yesterday while his motor boy escaped. Meanwhile, we made an arrest yesterday. However, efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.”

Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), also confirmed the incident to newsmen and said operatives had begun an intensive bush-combing operation to rescue the victim.

“We are already combing the forest and have blocked the routes leading to Ise in Ekiti to prevent the kidnappers from escaping. We are on top of the situation and determined to secure the victim’s release,” Mr Adeleye said.

The owner of the tipper, Monday Ayesoro, who confirmed the abduction to journalists, said that the incident occurred around 6:00 a.m. on Friday.

According to him, the tipper broke down along the way, and when the driver was attempting to fix the truck, armed men emerged from the bushes and whisked him away.

“However, the driver’s assistant, popularly known as the motor boy, managed to escape from the scene and alerted nearby residents for help,” he said.

(NAN)