Leadership

Gunmen Abduct Kwara Cleric, Son, Sibling, Demand N100m Ransom

- BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

Gunmen struck at Oko- Olowo in Ilorin, Kwara State in the early hours of Saturday and abducted three persons.

The victims are a young cleric, Alfa Sofiu Amolegbe, his son, Aliyu and his sibling, Fansasi.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the trio were attacked at their private residence in Oko- Olowo along IlorinJebb­a expressway after the suspected kidnappers removed the burglary of a window in the building.

An attempt by Fasansi to escape was met with stiff resistance from the kidnappers who reportedly rained bullets on him and also macheted him.

The father of the victims, Imam Amolegbe of Dada, Okelele area, Ilorin told LEADERSHIP that the kidnappers abandoned Fasansi thinking he was dead. The victim is now recuperati­ng at a private hospital in Ilorin.

Imam Amolegbe said the kidnappers have contacted the family demanding for

N100millio­n ransom.

"The kidnappers have contacted us and they are asking for N100m ransom. We have begged them to accept N10million from us, even though we don't have the money.

"I am appealing to the state government and men of goodwill to assist us in getting my two sons and grandson out of the den of the kidnappers," the cleric said in a shaky voice.

Since the news of the sad event broke out on Saturday, sympathise­rs have been thronging the Dada ancestral home of the victims to commiserat­e with their father who is a popular cleric in the area.

Some of the cleric's associates have also been holding special prayers that could aid the safe return of the victims.

When contacted, the spokesman of Kwara State Police Command, Okasanmi Ajayi confirmed the abduction of the victims, adding that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter.

 ?? ?? L-R: Deputy national chairman, Nigerian Institutio­n of Transport and Highway Engineers (NITHE), Engr Saidu Hassan; Pioneer national chairman, NITHE, Engr Isa Emoabino; a member, Engr Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya and national chairman, NITHE, Engr George Osita Nsonwu during 2nd fellowship conferment and 2022 AGM conference at National Engineerin­g Centre Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN
L-R: Deputy national chairman, Nigerian Institutio­n of Transport and Highway Engineers (NITHE), Engr Saidu Hassan; Pioneer national chairman, NITHE, Engr Isa Emoabino; a member, Engr Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya and national chairman, NITHE, Engr George Osita Nsonwu during 2nd fellowship conferment and 2022 AGM conference at National Engineerin­g Centre Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

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