Armed Gang Abducts 8 In Southwest Nigeria, Demands N50m Ransom

At least eight persons were abducted in Itapaji, Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The abduction happened just a week after four people were abducted at Ayebode in  Ikole Local Government Area (LGA) of the state where Itapaji is located.

According to reports, the eight victims were abducted around 9:30 p.m WAT when the armed shooters besieged a house located in the town and shot sporadically into the air before taking away the victims from the house.

An eyewitness added that the gunshots lasted for over one hour, terrifying residents of the community. It was gathered that the owner of the building was preparing for his mother’s burial when the shooters arrived.

“The kidnappers, seven, came around 9.30 with guns and surrounded the building. They fired gunshots sporadically,” the eyewitness said.

“As the occupants of the house were coming out, they were grabbed and made to lie face down. They were later taken away into the bush. They were 14 initially, but six of them escaped into the bush,” the source added.

Daily Trust also reported that the kidnappers on Wednesday, made contact with the family of the victims, demanding N50 million as ransom.

“Early today (Wednesday), one of the family members received a call from the abductors and demanded a ransom of N50m.”

The source also lamented that the lack of police stations in Itapaji-Ayebode and Irele-Oke Ako was responsible for the increasing rate of kidnapping in the axis, adding that the nearest police station is located at Ikole Ekiti, which is over 40 minutes drive to where the incidents occurred.

However, Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State who confirmed the incident told HumAngle that “four suspects have been arrested in connection to the kidnapping but no one has been rescued yet.”

Abutu also added that the police were not aware of any request for ransom by the abductors.

“The Command is working on that, already the special police operatives, as well as the JTF, have been deployed in that axis to ensure they rescue the victims and for possible arrest of the culprits.”