Abductors Demand N30m Ransom for Kidnapped Victim in Kwara

By Hammed Shittu

About six suspected kidnappers that abducted a 60 years old man, Mr. Ayo Alabi, last Saturday at Eleyin village between Oke-Onigbin and Omu-Aran Road in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded for the payment of N30 million ransom from the family of the victim.

Alabi was returning from a funeral held at Osi in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state on Saturday’s evening in a Toyota Sienna bus when six armed men emerged from the bush and ordered seven passengers in the bus to come down and led them into the bush.
THISDAY investigations yesterday revealed that the kidnappers got in touch with one of his friends, Mr. Williams Owolabi on Sunday night and demanded a ransom of N30 million to secure his release.

The kidnappers were said to have intercepted the Sienna Bus along Oke- Onigbin/Omu-Aran Highway.
Also a commercial Toyota Hiace Bus conveying 20 passengers and a car being driven by a pastor and his wife were simultaneously intercepted by gun men at Ekan Meje/Ekiti axis both in Kwara South Senatorial District of the state.

However, the police in a gun battle have been able to rescue four out of the seven victims in the Sienna bus while the kidnappers escaped with the remaining three passengers.

Similarly, the 20 passengers in the Toyota Hiace commercial bus were also rescued unhurt by the police leaving the three passengers in the Sienna and the pastor and his wife still in the captivity of the kidnappers.

The Spokesman of the State Police Command, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the three kidnap cases and said some arrests have been made and police patrol have been intensified across the state.

Okasanmi, in a press statement late on Sunday, said that four of the seven victims of the first kidnapping incident, which occurred between Oke-Onigbin and Omu-Aran were rescued by the joint security men while only the pastor and his wife were yet to be rescued in the second incident.

“The abductors were instantly chased into the bushes, four out of the seven abducted persons were rescued, efforts are still in top gear to get the remaining three rescued.

“Deploying similar tactics by operatives, those abducted in Ekanmeje /Ekiti axis using the same modus were equally rescued, remaining a pastor and his wife who the command is frantically doing everything possible to rescue unhurt,” he said.

Okasanmi said that “some suspects have been arrested and are helping the command in her investigation, adding that “the situation is under control.”

The PPRO advised the people of Kwara State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation and assured them that patrols of all the routes in the state have been intensified.

He appealed to the people of the state to report any suspected activities within their immediate environment to the police without delay.