On Friday, SaharaReporters reported widespread panic in Kwara as a result of the daily reports of kidnappings in various areas of the state.
A man identified as Mr Lukman Aliyu, a resident of Aseyori community, Alagbado area of Kwara State has started selling his belongings to raise the N8 million demanded by gunmen who kidnapped his two children, Abdulkadir Lukman and Muhideen Lukman.
On Friday, SaharaReporters reported widespread panic in Kwara as a result of the daily reports of kidnappings in various areas of the state.
Some residents of Alagbado, Ogidi, Okolowo, and others on the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital, reportedly fled their houses as a result of this development.
These communities have been under intense attacks by suspected kidnappers in recent times.
One of the victims of these was Mr Lukman, whose house was invaded by six gunmen who took away his children last Wednesday night.
The kidnappers at first demanded a ransom of N20 million but after a series of negotiations, they told Lukman to bring N8 million or lose his two children.
SaharaReporters gathered that Lukman sold his car for N1,500,000 and also indicated an interest in selling his house to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
“Lukman has sold his car for N1.5 million and was able to raise an additional N500,000 from his circle (family and friends) to make it N2 million now.
“Since the kidnappers insisted on N8 million or they will kill his children, he has no other choice but to decide to sell his house. His condition is very pathetic. I pray government could intervene in this matter and save our community from these kidnappers. Our lives are under threat because we do not know who is who and who is their next target," Alhaji Mustapha, a resident of the community told SaharaReporters.
Also, SaharaReporters on Thursday reported that an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) identified as Abdulmumini Yusuf was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ogidi community.
A resident of the community told SaharaReporters that ASP Abdulmumini was accosted by the gunmen while he was on his way to his house and kidnapped on Monday.
“Nobody has heard of his whereabouts since Monday. But we were told his superiors have been making efforts to rescue him,” the source had added.
Also, unidentified gunmen attacked 16 HOUR hotel and killed the owner, identified as Kayode Akinyemi in Alomilaya neighbourhood in Ganmo community, Kwara State, in August.
SaharaReporters learnt that after killing Akinyemi, aged 47, the attackers abducted one of his friends before leaving.
It was gathered that the gunmen also shot the manager, Emmanuel Olushila Ojo, who was taken to the general hospital in Ilorin for medical treatment after being critically injured.
Two residents of Alagbado; one Alfa Aribidesi and a woman (both traders), were traced to their houses and killed by suspected kidnappers while they were struggling to prevent the abduction of their children.
There have been cases of kidnapping in the area, but the victims' relatives often refuse to report such cases to the police out of fear that their relations may be killed.
In most cases, the victims' relatives raise funds to pay ransom to the kidnappers in order to secure the release of their loved ones.
The kidnappers, it was learnt, collect a minimum of N500,000 as ransom.
A resident who identified himself as Yusuf told SaharaReporters on Friday that the development had forced at least two of his neighbours to abandon their homes in the community for family houses in the town.