2 LG staff, 12 others abducted as gunmen lay siege on Kwara communities
Fourteen people including the Head of the Legal Department, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, Bar Elizabeth Arinde, and the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), Alhaji Musbau Amuda, were victims of kidnapping incidents in the state last week. The abduction of the council workers is the latest in the renewed surge in kidnapping in […]
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Fourteen people including the Head of the Legal Department, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, Bar Elizabeth Arinde, and the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), Alhaji Musbau Amuda, were victims of kidnapping incidents in the state last week.
The abduction of the council workers is the latest in the renewed surge in kidnapping in the southern part of the state with three incidents in one week.
Their abductors subsequently demanded for a for a N150,000 million ransom, N50 million for each of the attack, it was gathered.
The development, it was further learnt, had raised concerns among residents and traditional rulers of the affected communities.
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Suleiman Muhammed Kosemani, confirmed the abduction of LG workers to Daily Trust, adding that “the victims were returning to Oke-Ero after they went to deliver a motorcycle to the vigilantes.
On his part, a traditional ruler in the district, who preferred anonymity, said “Nine days ago, some gunmen invaded a neighbouring village in our sister’s council in Omu Aran and whisked away five people.
“In the second incident, which involved about seven passengers, they shot at the vehicle and emptied the passengers into the bush.
“We are yet to secure the release of any of them but they have contacted the affected communities separately demanding for N50 million each as ransom making N150 million,” he added.
Daily Trust had reported the first incident on April 20, 2025, when gunmen waylaid seven passengers in a Toyota Sienna belonging to Olumoh Express coming from Abuja to Offa after shooting at their tyres and matched them into the forest.
They, however, left three children among the victims behind in the incident which happened near Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
On Friday, about five kidnappers struck again around 5:45 pm, this time at Eleyin village, Isanlu-Isin, Isin local government, when they abducted commuters traveling in two vehicles and similarly whisked them away into the bush to an unknown destination. The police said two of the victims, Ganiyu Ajayi and Kolawole Adeyemi, were later rescued in a joint operation involving the military and vigilantes.
Speaking on the recent incidents, police spokeswoman, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi SP, said the three abandoned children had since been reunited with their families while the two rescued on Friday are receiving treatment.
She said efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Bar Elizabeth Arinde, and the DPM, Alhaji Musbau Amuda, of Oke-Ero were rescued unhurt on Monday midnight.
Chairman of Oke Ero Local Government, James Abiodun Fadipe, confirmed the development on Tuesday in a message.