Gunmen who abducted a retired Customs officer, Mr Emmanuel Owolabi, in Ora Igbomina, Osun State, have demanded a ransom of N200 million from his family before he can regain freedom.
Family sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the demand was communicated during a telephone conversation with the abductors.
The sources appealed to friends, associates and well meaning Nigerians to come to their aid, saying the family was overwhelmed by the amount demanded.
When contacted on whether the kidnappers were willing to reduce the ransom, one of the family sources said efforts were ongoing to negotiate with them.
The abduction occurred on Monday night when armed men invaded Ora Igbomina in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State. The attackers reportedly stormed the ancient town in large numbers, firing gunshots repeatedly and causing panic among residents.
During the invasion, the gunmen killed the leader of non indigenes in the town and abducted Mr Owolabi from his residence. Eyewitnesses said the operation lasted for several hours, forcing residents to flee their homes in large numbers for fear of being kidnapped.
The assailants were said to have taken control of parts of the town, including Akisa area, while residents deserted their houses and hid for safety. Local security guards and community vigilantes reportedly tried to repel the attackers but were overpowered due to inferior weapons.
Confirming the incident, the Inurin of Ora Igbomina land, High Chief Isaac Fadipe, said security operatives, including Amotekun personnel, local hunters and vigilantes, had been mobilised and were combing the bushes to rescue the abducted former Customs officer.
“We are now living in perpetual fear, and we want the government to act fast on the people’s security,” the traditional ruler said.
He added, “We heard that a man called Custom was kidnapped around 7 pm by some gunmen who ambushed him in his house. They took him towards the forest leading to Kwara State. On their way, they shot a man who was working on a charcoal site with a headlamp.”
According to him, “It was the 10 year old son of the man that was shot that came to town to report that his father had been killed on the farm.”
Fadipe said traditional rulers in the area had also been alerted to block possible escape routes, while security agencies continued the search for the attackers.
“The police have been informed and they are here. We are appealing to the state government to provide more security for us because we share boundaries with Kwara and Ekiti states,” he said.
Reacting, the Osun State Police Command said more personnel had been deployed to the area to comb the bushes. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said operatives moved in immediately after the incident was reported.
“Immediately we heard about the incident, our tactical teams were deployed and they have been on the trail of the suspects,” Ojelabi said.
He added that the Divisional Police Officer of Ora Igbomina Police Station was at the residence of the abducted ex Customs officer to gather more details.
“The case is a kidnapping case. The report that one person was killed has not been confirmed or substantiated,” he said.
Ojelabi noted that additional tactical teams had been deployed by the Commissioner of Police, stressing that investigations were ongoing and efforts intensified to rescue the victim and apprehend the assailants.
