INSECURITY: Fear Grips Motorists, Passengers As Gunmen Kidnap Many On Lagos- Ibadan Expressway

Several vehicles were reported to have aborted the trips to their various destinations after an unspecified number of motorists were kidnapped by gunmen around Dominion University City of Faith, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The incident which occurred on Friday 28th October 2022 at about 6 pm, was said to have generated tension on the axis.

According to an eyewitness who spoke with news correspondents, nobody could ascertain the number of people kidnapped but three private vehicles were affected.

He listed the affected vehicles as a Jeep, a Toyota Camry car, a commercial bus and a Sedan vehicle whose model could not be ascertained, adding that there was fear among motorists and passengers around that spot.

He said, “I can confirm some motorists have just been kidnapped near Dominion University, Ibadan. Many vehicles had to turn back but the road is free as I am talking to you.

“I saw four vehicles with their doors wide open and not a single person was found inside the three vehicles and there is no trace of where they ran to.

“One of the cars smashed its bonnet on the wall while the one behind jammed it from behind but there was no sign of an accident. We are sure it was a case of kidnap because the vehicles were empty.

“At first, we taught it was a robbery but if it was not. We should have seen those that were robbed. There was nobody at the scene when my vehicle got there”, he narrated.

The witness said when they moved away from the scene, they saw some hunters and vigilantes heading towards the place the incident happened.

One of the family member of the kidnapped victims, Mr Ayodele Afonja who spoke with news correspondents said his brother, Mr Babatunde Richard Afonja, his wife, Mrs Omolara Jemilat Afonja and his children, Sunmimade Afonja and Olayomade Olatunde Afonja were all kidnapped.

He explained that they were inside a commercial bus on there way to a church program at Mountain of Fire and miracles ministries before the unfortunate incident happened. He said the kidnappers later contacted the family and demanded for a ransome of 20 million Naira.

Recounting their ordeal in the hands of kidnappers, Mr Richard Afonja said the people who attacked them were Fulani herdsmen.  He said “immediately they stopped our vehicle, they ordered everyone to come down and led us to a bush. Immediately they led us to the bush, they blindfold our eyes, collected our phones and asked us to remove our shoes.

“They made us walk bare footed for hours in the bush. At a point we  were exhausted and couldn’t move as fast as the kidnappers wanted. We wanted to slow down but they beat us mercilessly. One of the kidnapper even hit my wife on her head with his riffle. They asked for our relatives phone numbers and were calling them one after the other asking for ransome in order to secure our release. They made us speak with our relatives but not for too long as it was for our relatives to confirm that we were truly kidnapped. They threatened that the ransome be paid within 48 hours as failure to do so, they would kill all of us.

On 1st November 2022, we were released somewhere around Obalende in Lagos state by the kidnappers after my family members  raised a ransome fee of 5 million Naira after they had negotiated the initial 20 million Naira that was demanded by the kidnappers.