Gunmen Kidnap University Students, Staff, Demand N150m Ransom

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped some students and staff of tertiary institutions in Ogun State as well as two others.

The abducted persons were identified as the Deputy Director of Information Communication Technology of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Mrs. Lateefat Abimbola and a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Toyinbo Olayinka and two others.

Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi noted that operatives have been deployed to secure the safe release of the kidnapped persons.

“Our operatives have started combing the bushes to ensure the victims are released while the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said in a statement.

Naija News understands the victims were abducted at various locations between Thursday last week and Saturday.

Abimbola was said to have been kidnapped in Ijebu-Ode on Thursday while Olayinka who is a 400- level Student of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management was abducted on Saturday from a private farm at Abule-Itoko on the Abeokuta-Ibadan Road in Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

A 17-year-old Togolese lady identified as Dominic said to be the owner of the farm was also kidnapped.

Speaking on the incident, the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Kola Adepoju said Olayinka was abducted where he had lived for three years.

In his words, “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 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 the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweeran and it’s working earnestly with the Command to ensure the safety and release of the kidnapped student.”

The kidnappers are said to have demanded the sum of N150m as ransom before the victims can be released according to a report monitored on Channels TV website.

Meanwhile, bandits abducted 14 people in Kabulo area of ​​Chikun Local Government Area of ​​Kaduna State on Sunday.

Daily Trust reports that initially 17 people were taken away by the bandits, including women, but three of the men escaped from their captors.