It was gathered that the three persons were abducted on Thursday afternoon at the institute’s plant nursery.
Dr Kayode Ayegboyin, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), CRIN branch, described the abduction as disheartening in an internal statement issued by him.
“The leaders of CRIN Central Nursery, Mrs Eunice Babalola, and Mr Kehinde Gbalajobi (Agric Superintendent) and one other man who resides at CRIN Senior Staff (SS) Quarters were kidnapped during working hours on Thursday, October 8.
“Mrs Babalola and Mr Gbalajobi were kidnapped while trekking from CRIN Central Nursery to Senior Staff Quarters with the intention to pick something up at Mrs Babalola’s residence.
“The driver was to pick them up later at SS Quarters while he would be returning with other nursery staff from CRIN nursery to the main office.
“However, the duo were kidnapped on their way from the nursery to the Senior Staff Quarters, while another man (a CRIN SS Quarters resident, but not a staff member of CRIN) was also kidnapped,” he said.
The chairman, in the statement, said the kidnappers went to the central nursery to pick more victims but were repelled after an exchange of gunshots with the security officials on guard.
“However, the report reaching me is that these kidnappers had called and demanded N120 million as ransom for the three kidnapped victims.
“So, kindly join the victims, their immediate families and indeed, the CRIN family in your prayers. We want them released soonest,” said the ASURI chairman.
A source in the know of the incident disclosed that the kidnapping occurred between noon and 1.00 p.m. at the same spot where the last kidnapping happened.
“This is now worrisome. How can we keep coming to work with fear? This is not right,” the source said.
Another official of the institute confirmed members’ agitation over the kidnapping incident, hence the protest.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the protest was over the kidnapping incident in the area on Thursday.
Ayanlade, however, added that the command was aware of the abduction and that rescue operations were underway.
