Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a lecturer at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, Mrs Lateefat Abimbola and a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Toyinbo Olayinka and two others.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspected kidnappers abducted the victims in separate operations and demanded N150m ransom.
- The incursion of Boko Haram, other terrorist
- Buhari orders flag to fly at half-mast, declares holiday for armed forces
Abimbola, who is the Deputy Director of Information Communication Technology of TASUED, was abducted in Ijebu-Ode area of the state last Thursday.
But Olayinka, a 400 – level student of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management in FUNAAB was kidnapped on Saturday at a private farm at Abule-Itoko on the Abeokuta – Ibadan road in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.
Olayinka was reportedly kidnapped alongside the owner of the farm, identified as Dominic and a 17-year-old Togolese lady.
Our correspondent further learnt that the abductors of the FUNAAB student and two others have contacted the wife of the farm manager, demanding N50 million ransom on each of the victims.
However, abductors of the TASUED lecturer who was reportedly kidnapped around 7 pm on Thursday at a junction near her home in Ijebu-Ode are yet to contact her family as of the time of filing this report.
A family source said: “Up till now, we have not heard from the abductors. They have not reached out to the family.”
The Head, Directorate of Public Relations, FUNAAB, Kola Adepoju, confirmed the incident, saying Olayinka was abducted where he had lived for three years as a self-sponsored indigent student.
Adepoju said: “According to the friend of the abducted student and a nursing mother who witnessed his abduction, he was kidnapped by gunmen at a private farm in Abule Itoko, a village in Odeda Local Government Area where he had been working and living for the past three years as a self-sponsored indigent student.
“The Management of the University has reported the abduction at Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran and we are working earnestly with the Command to ensure the safety and release of the kidnapped student.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command had been briefed on the abductions.
