Palpable tension has gripped residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, as gunmen stormed a health centre in the Oke Ijebu area of the town and abducted health workers on duty in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident, according to witnesses, occurred around 2:00 a.m., when the assailants invaded the facility and whisked away all staff present at the time.

A patient at the health centre said the attackers arrived in a large bus and forcefully gained entry into the premises without resistance.

The facility, located opposite Mega School in Oke Ijebu, was said to have been thrown into confusion as the gunmen carried out the operation.

The witness disclosed that six health workers, including some interns, were abducted during the raid.

He said, “They came in a bus and entered the hospital forcefully. They took all the health workers on duty, including the interns, and drove them away.”

Shortly after the incident, men of the State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, rescued five persons from two separate overnight operations in the Akure South Local Government Area of the state.

The Corps Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, who confirmed the development, disclosed that a 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old son were abducted at Pelebe on the outskirts of Oda Akure road between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

He said the victims were, however, rescued by the Rapid Response squad of Amotekun Corp about 1:00 a.m after a heavy confrontation with the Kidnappers.

Adeleye further revealed that three health workers who were earlier on adopted also regained freedom at about 4:30 am and are currently receiving treatment at the Amotekun health facility.

The Commander assured residents that the safety of lives and property remains a top priority for the state government.

He urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and adequate information to security agencies, emphasising the need for collective efforts to enhance safety across the state.