A close family member of the ward chairman of Labour Party (LP), in Akoko-Edo, Edo State, Okasime Olowojoba, was abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
Olowojoba was kidnapped on Saturday along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road, at a bad spot around Sasaro. a spot that had been notorious for violent kidnappings in the past.
It was gathered that he was returning from Auchi where he had gone to pick his children ahead of school resumption on Monday, when he was abducted with his children and househelp.
The kidnappers however later abandoned the children and took their father away.
The close family member who asked not to be named in print, spoke to journalists in Benin on phone.
He disclosed that the kidnappers have opened negotiations with the family and are demanding ₦50 million as ransom.
“Valentine Okasime Olowojoba is the Ward 1 Chairman of the Labour Party. He went to Auchi to pick his children, his children and wife went to Auchi for holidays, he went to bring his children to resume school on Monday.
“On their way back that Saturday, he was kidnapped and it happened that day when the network in the area did not function at all till on Sunday.
“They were all initially being taken into the bush by the kidnappers but they later left the house help and the children and went with him. They picked him up and abandoned his vehicle on the road.
“There was no network that Saturday, it was restored around 12 noon on Sunday and I learnt from his brother that as at Monday, they are asking for a ransom of ₦50 million.
“I also learnt that some other people were also kidnapped in the same area on Sunday,” he said.
The police have not confirmed the incident as calls to the State Police Command spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, could not be reached on phone.
