A distressing incident unfolded in the Ofosu area along the Benin-Ore Expressway, where Safiu Kareem raised an alarm regarding the abduction of his father, Akeem Kareem, along with several other individuals whose identities remain unknown. The perpetrators, who seized the victims on Wednesday afternoon, have reportedly initiated ransom demands.
Safiu shared that his father and companions were en route to Warri, Delta State, in a vehicle following a celebration in Osogbo, Osun State. The family learned of the abduction when the kidnappers contacted them using one of the phones taken from the travelers. According to Safiu, the assailants, clad in army uniforms, intercepted their vehicle in the Ofosu area of the Benin-Ore Expressway. A friend of his father managed to escape, recounting the incident to the family and revealing that one occupant was shot.
The incident was reported to a police station in Ofosu, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of N20 million. Safiu urgently appealed to the police, military, and other security agencies to intervene, emphasizing his desire not to lose his father.
Efforts to obtain information from the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, proved unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered. Similarly, the Edo State PPRO, Chidi Nwabuzor, did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
The escalating insecurity in the country has raised concerns among Nigerians, prompting calls for decisive actions by the Federal Government against kidnappers. Last week, the security crisis reached the Federal Capital Territory, where bandits kidnapped 23 people in the Bwari area of Abuja. As part of anti-kidnapping measures, the Federal Government issued a warning against raising funds for ransom.
In response to the overall security situation, the South-South governors expressed their worries on Thursday, urging the Federal Government to enhance its efforts in managing security across the nation.
