Gunmen kidnap Edo LP ward chairman, demand ransom

The Ward 1 Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Okasime Olowojoba, has been kidnapped along the notorious Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road while on his way back to Igarra from Auchi.

The abduction occurred on Saturday near Sasaro, a known hotspot for frequent kidnappings. Olowojoba, a realtor by profession, was reportedly on a trip to pick up his children, who had been spending the holidays in Auchi, in preparation for their school resumption in Igarra.

Sources revealed that the kidnappers initially held all the passengers in Olowojoba’s vehicle, including his children and a house help. However, the children and the house help were released, and Olowojoba was taken into the forest by the abductors.

A close family member told Vanguard on Monday that the abductors are demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.

According to the source: “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba is the Ward 1 Chairman of the Labour Party. He went to Auchi to pick his children, who were returning from their holiday. On their way back on Saturday, he was kidnapped around Sasaro, a place already known for such incidents.

“The network in that area was down throughout Saturday and only returned around noon on Sunday, which delayed communication. The kidnappers initially took all the occupants into the bush but later released the house help and the children, keeping only him. His vehicle was left abandoned on the road.

“As of Monday, his brother confirmed that the kidnappers are demanding N50 million for his release. We also heard that more people were kidnapped in the same area on Sunday.”

Efforts to get a police confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, went unanswered.