Kwara imam flees community as bandits abduct wife, 2 sons
The Chief Imam of Ologoma in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Folorunsho Aweda, has narrated how armed bandits abducted his wife and two sons in a late-night attack that forced him and other residents to abandon the community for Ilorin. Speaking in Ilorin, where he now resides after fleeing Ologoma, the cleric […]
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The Chief Imam of Ologoma in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Folorunsho Aweda, has narrated how armed bandits abducted his wife and two sons in a late-night attack that forced him and other residents to abandon the community for Ilorin.
Speaking in Ilorin, where he now resides after fleeing Ologoma, the cleric said the assailants stormed his residence at about 11:30 p.m., heavily armed and in large numbers.
“They surrounded my house and ordered me to sit up after waking me from sleep,” he recounted.
He added, “One of them engaged me in a discussion while about four others went inside to abduct my wife and two of my children who were asleep. The rest of my children who were awake managed to escape during the invasion.”
Alhaji Aweda disclosed that the abductors have since demanded a N30 million ransom, requesting N10 million each for the release of the victims, Lukman Alabi, Afeez Ishola, and Rafatu Ajiun.
“Their initial demand was outrageously high until we begged them. They spoke different languages. At first, they used English and Hausa, and when I said I could not understand, they switched to Yoruba. We have not been able to raise a kobo from the money they demanded. Even the little we use to feed in Ilorin comes from my other children who labour daily to support us,” he said.
The cleric added that the attack has left him displaced and unwell.
“I am a farmer, but old age and insecurity have stopped me from farming. Since I came to Ilorin, I have been on drugs because my health has deteriorated. My plea is for the government to rescue my family members still in captivity.”
Another displaced victim who also relocated to Ilorin, Mrs. Aweda, said the bandits chased residents to the house of the village head, where they dispossessed him of money, phones, bags, and recharge cards. “They also broke into my shop and carted away drinks from the fridge and loaded them into a sack. We could not take anything away when we fled. Right now, we have nothing to eat. Our main concern is the rescue of those abducted. We plead with the government to come to our aid,” she lamented.
For his part, Murtala Toyeeb Ishola, also from Ifelodun, described the situation as unbearable and urged government authorities not to allow the victims to be killed. “This problem is really disturbing. The Chief Imam and others have been wearing the same clothes since they fled to Ilorin. We call on the local government chairman, the deputy governor, and all relevant authorities to assist us immediately,” he appealed.
Daily Trust reports that the state government, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the military have recently recorded successes with the arrest and killing of some of the bandits’ leaders and members.