Family of Deceased Broadcaster Appeal to Kidnappers to Release Daughter, Pregnant Friend

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The family of budding broadcaster, Aisha Thelma Alli-Balogun Abiose, who was at the weekend shot dead by suspected militants has appealed to them to release her two-year-old daughter and her pregnant friend, whom they also abducted.

The displaced pipeline vandals turned militants had during the weekend stormed the Ajegunle area of Ikorodu and held motorists stuck in traffic, hostage for over an hour without police intervention.

After robbing the motorists and carting away with their valuables, the gang had shot Abiose dead and also kidnapped her two-year-old daughter, Fareeda and her pregnant friend.

It was gathered from family sources that Aisha was shot while trying to protect her daughter from the marauders.
The family source who did not want to be mentioned said, “It’s a double tragedy for our family so we are appealing to the militants to please release Aisha’s little daughter. The girl is innocent and is too fragile to be in the midst of militants.

“Her mother has been buried according to Islamic rites. If the girl is still in their hands, we will be mourning and still be mourning Fareeda.”

Meanwhile, the militants were said to have called the family to demand N10million to secure the release of the minor and the pregnant woman.

After carrying out their successful operation, the gang had crossed over the bridge and made away with their speedboats.

Although operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the divisional police officers later stormed the vicinity, the robbers had already left the vicinity, thus earning the policemen the wrath of the victims.

It was also gathered that asides the deceased, another person was shot dead by the armed robbers in the operation that lasted for one hour.

Meanwhile, checks revealed that the state police command has activated its anti-kidnapping squad to go after the gang and rescue the minor.

Already, efforts have been intensified to round up the kingpins of all the major kidnap syndicates operating in the Ikorodu area and its environs.

According to police sources, those behind all the kidnap incidents in Ikorodu have been narrowed down to some displaced Ijaw militants who relocated to the area.

The police said they were on the trail of the two major brains- simply identified as Agbala and Ossy, adding that they have since been declared wanted by the Owutu Police Division in Ikorodu.

Confirming this, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, said the police are working hard to rescue the victims, and arrest the culprits in order to bring them to book.

He said: “The problem is that people do not give information to the police. The police saw the two vehicles but did not know that it belonged to the kidnapped victims.”

The deceased, a Lagos State University graduate of English, was the presenter of Standup Nigeria, a popular comedy show owned by Bunmi Davies.

Born on March 7 1988 (aged 28) and married to Ajibola Yussuf Abiose, the deceased had two kids, a boy and a girl, and has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
She attended Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School and bagged a degree in English from the Lagos State University.

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